Ashes: It will be a big 'test' of character for England at Trent Bridge

Special performance at Trent Bridge will give England players an opportunity to etch their names in Ashes history, feels skipper Cook as hosts aim to go 3-1 up vs Australia in fourth Test

Nottingham: England captain Alastair Cook has called on his players to etch their name in Ashes history by doing their bit to reclaim the urn at Trent Bridge.

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Alastair Cook 

England, pummelled 5-0 Down Under in 2010-11, will take the field today 2-1 ahead and knowing that one more victory will take them over the line with a game to spare.

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That is far from a given, with England having followed their last three Test wins with dispiriting defeats — against the West Indies, New Zealand and against the old enemy Lord's last month.

History beckons
With Australia's only victory this summer coming by a crushing 405-run margin, Cook can hardly rely on the form book to see England right and is instead banking on one or more of his charges conjuring a decisive performance.

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In 2005 it was Kevin Pietersen's maiden hundred at the Oval, four years later Jonathan Trott hit a decisive century on debut and in 2013 Stuart Broad took 11 wickets in Durham to seal the deal.


England coach Trevor Bayliss talks to the players ahead of their practice session on the eve of the fourth Ashes Test at Trent Bridge. Pic/Getty Images 

Cook himself took the headlines when England triumphed 2010-11, hitting 189 in the final Test at the SCG and he is looking for another headline showing this week.

"The series is poised at 2-1, there's an opportunity for someone to really make a name for themselves in the history of English cricket," said Cook.

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"If someone scores a really big hundred or takes six or seven wickets to help England win the game their name will be etched in history forever. That's the opportunity we have as a side."

Lyth could be dropped
On current form, the odds on that man being Adam Lyth would surely be on the long side.

The Yorkshire opener is averaging just 12 from his six Ashes innings and may well have lost his place had there been a compelling candidate in form.

But Cook, who has witnessed his struggles from the non-striker's end, believes Lyth could take his chance.

"He hasn't scored the runs he'd like to have scored, he knows that, but in the last game I thought he looked a lot more solid," said the skipper.

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