Alastair Cook insists England can retain the Ashes at Nottingham next week despite the absence of Jimmy Anderson.

Trent Bridge is Anderson’s favourite Test ground and he boasts a fantastic record there with 56 wickets in eight matches at an average of just over 19.

His loss is a huge blow for the home side, who took a 2-1 series lead with an emphatic eight-wicket win at Edgbaston in front of a raucous home crowd who delighted in their side cruising to a three-day victory on Friday.

Mark Wood is likely to come in for Anderson after missing this match with an ankle injury and although he admits losing the leader of his attack is a blow, the resurgence of Steve FInn, who was named man of the match, is a huge bonus.

“Jimmy and Woody are quite like for like,” Cook said.

“It is disappointing. Jimmy’s record at Trent Bridge is brilliant.

“I said at the beginning of the week we have an opportunity at 1-1 to do something really special in the next three games.

“Now it is an opportunity for someone lucky enough to replace Jimmy to do something very special.”

England’s performance was in complete contrast to their 405-run hammering at Lord’s two weeks ago and Cook praised his players for the manner in which they bounced back to dominate Australia from day one.

“I can’t really talk about it in terms of what I have done, it was down to the other guys who played,” he said.

“Ten other guys have put in a performance of really high quality.

“Every single one of them can be very proud of the character they have shown. There was a lot of negativity about our performance at Lord’s, which was justified and then to bounce back and play as well as that is down to character and good skill.

“I am very happy.”