Marcus Trescothick has no doubt that England opener Alastair Cook is mentally strong enough to excel in this winter's Ashes.

Cook's place in the team had been under question after a run of poor scores this summer, but he hit back with a fine knock of 110 against Pakistan in the fourth Test at the Oval in August.

Despite this, Ricky Ponting maintained earlier this year that the Essex opener was one of England's weak links, claiming that Cook was hanging on to his position in the team only "by the skin of his teeth".

Cook has performed admirably with Andrew Strauss at the top of the order ever since he made his debut in 2006, but perhaps the only blemish on his record is the fact that the 25-year-old averages in the mid-20s against Australia.

The Australians will no doubt seize upon that fact when the Test series begins on November 25 and Cook himself admitted earlier this week that he must perform better in this winter's eagerly anticipated series.

Trescothick, who averaged over 40 at the top of the order during his six-year stint with England, is confident that Cook will rise above any pressure placed upon him to perform a vital role for the tourists.

"I have been away with Alastair for a bit. I know what he is like and he is certainly the type of person you want in your side," said the 34-year-old.

"He gels people together and is a fantastic player. Form comes and goes but he'll bounce back. "In an Ashes series you have to deal with a lot of pressure. It comes from the opposing players, the media and the public.

"He has to deal with it but he is a strong boy mentally and he will come good."

Cook and Strauss' failure to record an opening-50 stand was one of the reasons why the tourists fell to a humiliating 5-0 defeat Down Under three years ago.

Trescothick admits the duo must lay a solid foundation to the innings if England are to be successful this time around.

"We need Cooky and Andrew Strauss playing well at the top of the order. That will be key to us winning the series," said Trescothick, who was speaking at the Co-operative Be Inspired dinner.

"If those two are there at lunch on the first day it will be an important sign for the series.

"The important thing for me is that we play positive cricket. Strauss needs to come out and play like he can and Cook has to come out and take it to them too. We need to set the tone and the tempo of the series right from the start."

The England team are in buoyant mood after a year which has seen them beat Pakistan and Bangladesh while also claiming a surprise win in the ICC World Twenty20 in May.

The Australians, meanwhile, are reeling after a 2-0 defeat to India and the failure to beat a sub-par Pakistan in England this summer.

Trescothick, who was part of the 2005 Ashes winning series, believes the absence of Ashes veterans Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, who ripped England apart in the 2006-07 whitewash, mean Strauss' team should be confident of victory.

"Things have changed dramatically over the last few years," said the Somerset opener.

"Australia have lost those few players that they were really dependent on like Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath and our attack is looking in really good shape at the moment. "We have a good batting line up, a strong attack and a world-class spinner so we're in a good position to retain the Urn at the moment.

"You always have to be fearful of Australia at home but I don't think we should be scared about winning. We hold the Ashes so there is no reason why we can't retain them."

::Marcus Trescothick was speaking at the Co-operative Be Inspired dinner for the launch of the Activate Sport Foundation. Visit www.activatesportfoundation.co.uk for more information.