Cook backs England's pace bowlers to help retain Ashes in Australia

England captain Alastair Cook has backed his pace bowlers to help retain the Ashes when they play in Australia at the end of next month.

According to Metro.co.uk, England have only just claimed a 3-0 series victory over Australia but will begin another Ashes campaign against Michael Clarke's side next month.

Cook and the England selectors announced the squad to travel to Australia three weeks ago and included pace bowlers James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Steven Finn, Chris Tremlett, Boyd Rankin and all-rounder Ben Stokes, while Tim Bresnan is still fighting to be fit, the report said.

Of the six included in the 17-man squad, Anderson is the shortest at 6ft 2in, while Tremlett and Rankin both measure 6ft 8in, and Cook believes this will be key to bringing the urn back home, the report added.

The Essex opener said that pace and bounce in Australia have proved successful so far.

He said that it was the reason why England went for that attack, and it was the key, adding that James Anderson and co. will be crucial Down Under.

The first Test begins on November 21 at the Gabba in Brisbane, with England looking for a repeat of the last Ashes series in Australia where they claimed an emphatic 3-1 victory, the report further said.