Cook's Ashes challenge for pace understudies

Captain Alastair Cook today challenged his backup pace battery to push for Test places when England's Ashes tour gets under way next week ahead of the series against Australia.
Cook used his first official media conference in Perth to state that a place was up for grabs in England's pace attack behind first choice stars Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad and urged the next in line -- Chris Tremlett, Steven Finn and newcomer Boyd Rankin -- to go after it.
England open up against an under-strength Western Australia team in a three-day warmup game starting in Perth on Thursday ahead of the opening Test at Brisbane's Gabba ground on November 21. This is followed by Tests in Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney.

Selectors included five fast bowlers in their 17-man touring squad with an eye to taking advantage of the hard bouncy wickets they are likely to encounter in Australia.
"It is quite clear to see that Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad have done enough over their fantastic careers to be first choice bowlers and we tend to play three quicks and a seamer so there is one place up for grabs," Cook said.
"So it's pretty clear for everyone to know that and people have to stick their hand up for selection and if they do really well in these couple of warmup games and the opportunities they will get, they're going to put their name up."

Former Ireland international Rankin, who impressed for his adopted country during the one-day series against Australia last month, is bidding for his first Test match during the Australia tour.