Alastair Cook has backed off-spinner Dom Bess to be included in the England XI for the Boxing Day Ashes Tes at the MCG.

In his opinion, doing so will give England a tactical advantage against Australia’s left-handers, as the tourists look to make a comeback from 0-2 down in the series.

Jack Leach featured as the lead England spinner in the first Test in Brisbane, but was benched after conceding 102 runs from 13 runs while taking a solitary wicket. For the second Test in Adelaide, England captain Joe Root did most of the spin-bowling duties, helped partly by Dawid Malan’s leggies, as Australia posted 473-9 and 230-9 in two innings, declaring on both occasions. With Root off the field due to injury for a portion of day four, Ollie Robinson even resorted to bowling off-breaks.

Cook feels that Bess, who hasn’t played a Test since he was dropped during the India tour in March, could be the way forward, with England unlikely to go back to Leach for the remainder of the series.

“I’ve gone for Dom Bess, because of what happened to Jack Leach in Brisbane,” he said speaking on BT Sport. “It’s a big call to come back from, it needs a huge amount of character. He got dealt with quite harshly by the Australians, and Dom Bess, with the four left-handers in the Australia top seven, it gives a bit of a tactical advantage for Joe Root.”

The 24-year-old Bess has picked up 36 wickets in 14 Tests, but is considered by many to be still developing his skills. Playing for England Lions against Australia A earlier this month, he claimed figures of 4-80 and 2-157.

Cook also felt that Ollie Pope’s spot in the team is up for debate, suggesting Zak Crawley to be the frontrunner among other options that include Jonny Bairstow and Dan Lawrence. Pope, England’s No.6 in the two Tests, has hit just one fifty-plus score in his last 20 Test innings.

“The only player I would query is Ollie Pope,” Cook said. “I would need to see the players in the nets, see how Ollie Pope has handled these two Test matches. I’m looking at him and see, ‘Is he the man up for the fight, or am I looking at a timid guy who has struggled with that?’ Then one of the other guys comes in. I think Crawley has the best game to suit Australian conditions.”

However, he suggested that the rest of England’s line-up should remain unchanged, backing Jos Buttler despite his struggles behind the stumps in the second Test.

“Jos keeps because he’s done enough in that innings [making 26 off 207], he’ll carry that through,” Cook said. “Jonny Bairstow hasn’t played, and to me it’s just a straight, ‘Who is the better keeper/batsman?'”

Sign up to bet365 to be entered into a draw for the chance to win a Wisden t-shirt of your choice, terms and conditions apply, more information here 18+ begambleaware.org