England searching for consistency at Trent Bridge
Alastair Cook's men aim to end win-lose sequence in Nottingham, but will need to do it without lynchpin Jimmy Anderson, who will miss the fourth test through injury
England captain Alastair Cook has challenged his side to end their frustrating inconsistency by winning two tests in a row and regaining the Ashes at Trent Bridge.
Cook's men took a 2-1 lead in the five-match series with a dominant eight-wicket win completed inside three days in the third test at Edgbaston on Friday.
Yet since drawing their series opener against the West Indies in Antigua in April, England have been unable to string two wins together in their subsequent seven tests in 2015.
We have got to be tough on ourselves as players and get ourselves absolutely spot on for that game
Friday's victory came on the back of a 405-run defeat in the second test at Lord's, which in turn followed England's 169-run success in the first test in Cardiff.
Should the sequence be maintained, England would regain the Ashes 3-2 with a win in the series finale at The Oval.
But Cook, understandably would rather England headed to south London 3-1 up - and believes they can do so even in the absence of injured fast bowler James Anderson.
"If [the sequence] goes to nine matches, I will be just as happy, but it would be nice to break that trend at Trent Bridge," he said on Friday.
