Cook has become a cornerstone of England's Test team.
  • Cook has become a cornerstone of England's Test team.
  • He marked his Test debut with a century in India...
  • and also reached three figures in Perth on the last Ashes tour Down Under.
  • The batsman captained England on their tour of Bangladesh last winter.
  • The left-hander answered his critics this summer with a century against Pakistan.

Despite still only being 25, Alastair Cook will be embarking on his second Ashes tour. He will certainly be hoping for better fortunes this time around.

Picked to open after Marcus Trescothick returned home, the left-hander found life tough going against Glenn McGrath and co, although he did manage a century in the second innings at Perth.

Cook was no stranger to be thrust into the limelight. He made his first-class debut in 2003 and quickly became a regular in Essex's line-up having broken batting records during his time at Bedford School.

Called up to England's squad during the tour of India in 2006 due to an injury crisis, Cook hit 60 in the first innings and then 104 in the second, becoming just the fifth man to score a half-century and a century on debut.

By the time he had turned 23 the Gloucester-born batsman had notched seven Test hundreds before his 23rd birthday - a feat bettered only by Sir Donald Bradman and Sachin Tendulkar.

A strong cutter and puller, Cook has had his issues when bowlers have pitched the ball up to him outside the off stump. His firm-footed defensive push has seen him edge through to behind the wicket on plenty of occasions.

However he has worked hard to develop his game under the guidance of Essex legend Graham Gooch and captained the tourists in the away series against Bangladesh when Andrew Strauss was allowed to rest.

Centuries in both Tests against the Tigers suggests he relished the chance to lead from the front. It would no surprise if he was to skipper the side again on a more permanent basis.

Having found himself coming under pressure at one stage during the last summer, Cook responded with a fine century in a losing cause against Pakistan at the Oval.

So far he has struggled against the Australians, averaging just 26.21, but the opener has the temperament and the talent to succeed in the cauldron of an Ashes battle.