Cook says 'top order batsmen' key to England winning four consecutive Ashes

England captain Alastair Cook has said that his team's batsmen must find their form if the side wants to retain the Ashes in Australia.

According to the BBC, Cook pointed out that top-order runs were vitally important down under and 400 was the bare minimum to get in the game, adding that it was the job of the top order.

England arrive in Australia on Friday with the first Test on 21 November, the report said.

They beat their hosts 3-1 in 2010-11, their first triumph down under for 24 years and followed up with victory on home soil in July and August this year, the report added.

Cook's men are seeking to become the first England side since 1890 to win four Ashes series in a row and the Essex batsman accepts his team are rightly regarded as favourites to beat Australia, who have lost seven of their past nine Tests, the report further said.

The captain went past 50 on just two occasions this summer, but failed to compile a century and ended up scoring 277 runs at an average of 27.7, according to the report.