Less than six weeks to the Ashes, and counting. But whenever the going gets tough for Alastair Cook over the next month and a half, England's young opener is more likely to rewind three winters rather than fast forward to 8 July in Cardiff.

Cook's summer has begun in promising fashion, with his Test-best innings of 160 at Chester-le Street helping England wallop the West Indies 2-0. Now, though, the Essex left-hander is back on the county circuit, having failed to win selection for either the one-day internationals or next month's Twenty20 World Cup.

But it is the battle to reclaim the Ashes that Cook is focusing on. And while memories of the 2005 win are still vivid, the whitewash series of 2006-07 motivates him to go the extra yard in training. "I try to avoid thinking about it," he said when asked to reflect on Australia's 5-0 triumph. "But the memory is still there. It wasn't a happy time to be an English cricketer."

Especially, one imagines, for a 21-year-old international novice - as Cook was when that series began. Now, though, Cook is able to use the whitewash as a motivational tool.

"For example, when I've got another minute to go on the running machine and I'm really struggling - that's when I remember the last Ashes series," he said. "I use it to push that extra bit."

Not that all of Cook's memories from that trip to Australia are bad. A century in Perth, against Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Co, was something to treasure. "Definitely," he agrees. "But overall I came away disappointed with my own performance."

Cook will go into this Ashes series with 43 Tests, nine centuries and an average of 45 behind him.

However, at 24, he still claims to have "a hell of a lot to learn".

Despite losing his place in England's one-day team, Cook is confident he will again play 50-over cricket for his country. But making the Twenty20 side could be a challenge too far.

"I am frustrated at not being involved in England's one-day team," Cook said. "But I feel that it is going to do me more good playing for Essex than being in the England squad and not making the starting XI. As it is I've got a great chance to play some Twenty20 cricket for my county and then some championship cricket before the Ashes."

Ah, the Ashes. Everything comes back to the A-word this summer. And with Australia having lost half their whitewash team to retirement, surely England can serve up a repeat of 2005.

"If we play as well as we can then it will be a good series," added Cook. "We can put Australia under pressure."

And win? "Being part of an Ashes-winning team would be a dream. I don't think anyone who hasn't experienced it can imagine what that would be like - but I'd love to find out."

* Alastair Cook was speaking ahead of the Standard Chartered Great City Race, a 5km team race through the streets of London's square mile on 16 July. For more information, visit www.cityrace.co.uk