The Ashes: Six key players

Tomorrow morning at Trent Bridge, England and Australia will begin their five-match Test series for the right to lift The Ashes.

Here, <strong>Sports Mole</strong> has picked out three men from each side who have been tipped to have a big say on the outcome.

<strong>England</strong>

<strong>Alastair Cook</strong>

He may have guided England to success in India late last year, but this will be Cook's biggest challenge to date. As captain, there is no better prize than picking up the urn at the end of the series.

Not only does Cook have to contend with helping to pick the team, set fields and rotate the bowling attack, he also has to open the batting.

Since taking over the responsibility from Andrew Strauss he has scored well . . .