The Ashes 2013: 1st Test - Five players to watch out for on Day 2

3. Alastair Cook

The England captain will be hoping that he gets to the crease as soon as possible. His dismissal in the first innings exposed the English middle-order to Australia’s hostility. He has been a consistent performer in the past, and while that is an advantage, the team has become used to his playing the role of the anchorman. England will suffer in this series if he has more of such outing as he had on the first day.

If he can plug up one end, not only will he be able to score at a healthy rate, he will ensure that the effectively of those playing around him increases manifold. If England come out to bat in the last session, he will be under pressure to preserve the middle-order from the kind of meltdown that Australia suffered on Day 1.