Intro:

England captain Alastair Cook looks ahead to the start of the Ashes Test series against Australia in Cardiff.

Script:

SOUNDBITE: England captain Alistair Cook (on thoughts ahead of the first Test):

"As always the day before, there are some nerves flying around from probably both sides, but the over-riding thing, you saw us train today, the lads after all the build up can't wait to get going and play some cricket. It's a huge challenge for us to play against the best side in the world, but in our home conditions, and as players you want to contest yourselves against the best that's what you want to do and see how good you are.
"You know the last three or four months from the start of the West Indies tour, I feel my game has come back to me. I haven't been searching for it as much. A lot of that is down to the work I did in February and March with Gary (Palmer) and (Graham) Goochy as well. I feel in a good place mentally as well, but as always it's one thing saying it here, it's all about delivering tomorrow.

"Mitchell was outstanding in the last series, but a lot of our guys have played a lot with him, I suppose its 1 all in terms of we had the wood over him in 2010-11 and 2009, but he had us last time out. But I genuinely believe this series won't come down to just one bowler or player, it's which side plays the best"