Captain Cook`s stiff back on mend

Sydney: Skipper Alastair Cook has overcome back trouble and is on track to return for England`s next tour game against Australia A, paceman Chris Tremlett says.

Cook was forced to miss the current three-day match against the Western Australia Chairman`s XI after arriving in Perth with a stiff back following the long flight from London. But Tremlett believes his captain will be ready to play in the four-day game against Australia A, starting in Hobart on November 6. "By all accounts he`s feeling a lot better," Tremlett said late Thursday. "I think he had a bit of a stiff back over the last couple of days. "But he`s been in the nets and in the gym, and he`s been in good spirits in the dressing room." Fast bowler Stuart Broad, star batsman Kevin Pietersen and spinner Graeme Swann were also rested from the current game, but all three are expected to feature in Hobart. During England`s 3-1 series win on their last tour of Australia in 2010/11, Cook scored a colossal 766 runs at an average of 127.66 with three hundreds and a best of 235 not out. Australia, who have lost the past three Ashes series, are fighting to reverse a 3-0 defeat in England earlier this year. The first Test starts in Brisbane on November 21.