Trott has faith in Cook

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Jonathan Trott would have been ready to replace Alastair Cook at the top of England's batting order but is glad the selectors kept faith with the opener.

Cook has been badly out of sorts, mustering just 100 Test runs in seven visits to the crease this summer, and Trott had been touted as a potential stand-in had the left-hander been sent back to county cricket to find his form.

But Cook's name was present as national selector took the unusual step of naming a starting team rather than a squad for the third npower Test against Pakistan, which starts tomorrow.

That means Trott will resume at number three, a position he has looked increasingly confident in as the domestic season has gone on.

Trott believes Cook will come good soon but, having opened once before when Andrew Strauss opted not to tour Bangladesh over the winter, he would do so again if required.

"At the beginning of the Bangladesh series I was probably where he is now," said Trott, who had struggled for runs in the preceding trip to his native South Africa.

"It's only four Test matches since then so it's amazing how things change.

"But whenever I see Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss at the crease I feel very secure. I'm sure he'll be fine.

"It's not something I've thought a lot about as I don't think I'll have to open.

"But if it's something that's asked of me I think I could do it because it's my job as a number three to be able to score big runs from the first over if I have to.

"(In) the last Test of the Bangladesh series I was asked to do it and it was fine. Whether it's opening or batting at seven, it's just as important to be able to contribute to the team."

Trott also shrugged off comments from Australia captain Ricky Ponting that his side could beat England 5-0 in this winter's Ashes series.

The Australians secured an Ashes whitewash on England's last visit Down Under four years ago, but a closer series looks more likely after England won back the urn last summer.

"A whitewash is absolutely possible. There's no reason why not. It's all in our hands. It's how well we play and how well we take charge of different situations," Ponting said.

Trott, who scored a maiden Test century to secure the decisive Ashes-winning success at the Oval last August, refused to take the bait, however, saying: "I've only played one game against them which they wanted to win, but that didn't work out too well for them.

"All I can really say is it worked out well for us.

"I don't know what Ricky Ponting would mean saying stuff like that. If I were to say something similar I'd find it putting more pressure on our team than if we just go about our business, like we will."

Pakistan opener Imran Farhat, who helped his team secure a 1-1 series draw against Australia last month, said he did not think a whitewash was likely.

"Australia are on the way down," he said.

"They're still tough to beat, but England can win. I don't think 5-0 to Australia is possible."