Wednesday 5 August 2015 15:59, UK
England will continue to target Michael Clarke in the fourth Investec Ashes Test at Trent Bridge, according to captain Alastair Cook.
Cook admits they have concentrated extensively on stifling the Australian captain in the hope that it has a detrimental effect on the rest of the team, and Clarke has failed to make more than 38 in a single innings.
"We know what a great player Michael Clarke is and the lads have bowled really well at him," Cook said.
"We know when you can stop a captain scoring runs it can have a good effect. We've got to continue doing that.
"We can't control how Australia bat. All we can do is control how we bowl and field, and operate. That's our focus. We know if we put the ball in certain areas we can put pressure on them."
England have been training at Nottingham Forest football club ahead of the Test, which begins live on Sky Sports Ashes at 10am on Thursday, and Cook insists they are in great shape, 2-1 ahead in the series.
"I can't fault their effort and enthusiasm. Two out of three games we've played great cricket," Cook said.
"No one gave us a chance at the start of the series and it's a dangerous place to be. We have to focus on us - I'm not looking at the end of five days but the first hour of tomorrow (Thursday).
"The guys have trained very well and we had a great time having a kick around with Nottingham Forest on Monday. The atmosphere has been brilliant so now we have to transfer that to the game.
"When the series is poised at 2-1 there's another opportunity for someone else to really make their name in the history of English cricket. If someone makes a hundred, or takes six or seven wickets, and help England win the game then they'll be written into history forever. So that's the kind of chance we have as a side."
Watch the fourth Ashes Test from Trent Bridge from Thursday August 6 live on Sky Sports Ashes HD. You can also watch the fourth Test with a NOW TV Sports Day Pass. Plus, our Ashes Events Centre - the best of Sky Cricket's analysis at your fingertips - is available on our iPad app
