Ashes 2013-14: Alastair Cook hopeful of Tim Bresnan return

Alastair Cook and Tim Bresnan

England captain Alastair Cook says all-rounder Tim Bresnan might be fit for the first Ashes Test against Australia which starts on 21 November.

Bresnan has not played since the Durham Test at the start of August with a stress fracture in his lower back.

But Cook is hopeful the 28-year-old Yorkshire seamer will be available.

"He might be back bowling 100% by the first Test match - might be. That's the kind of progress we'd hope to see from Tim," Cook said.

"He'll obviously have to have some bowling in matches before he goes into a Test match if possible.

"The performance squad have come out as well, so we've obviously got both options available for him to get some matches in.

"But we don't know how his back is going to react. We'll wait and see."

Cook, who held his first official news conference in Perth since England arrived down under, says there is a place up for grabs in the tourists' pace attack behind Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad.

The England skipper has plenty of options with uncapped Irishman Boyd Rankin, Chris Tremlett and Steven Finn in contention along with Bresnan should he recover in time.

"We tend to play three quicks so there's one place up for grabs," Cook said.

"It's pretty clear for everyone to know that and people have got to stick their hand up.

"If they do well in these warm-up games, the opportunities they get, they're going to put their name there."

England begin their preparations for the first Test on 31 October with a three-day match against Western Australia.

Cook, 28, suggests Rankin, who quit playing for Ireland a year ago to further his England career, is someone who can make use of the conditions in the warm-up game at the WACA.

"He can get the ball down pretty close to 90mph," Cook added. "You can see from the selection of the squad we've picked we think pace and bounce will be quite crucial on Australian wickets.

"Boyd certainly gives us that option. He hasn't played a Test match or been around a Test environment before so it will be interesting to see how it goes."