ANTIGUA — Former captain Alastair Cook has backed England's decision to pick Joe Denly at the expense of Keaton Jennings for the second test in West Indies, saying the Kent batsman must now aim to cement his place in the lineup head of this year's Ashes series.

Left-hander Jennings, who averages 25.86 in 16 tests, lost his place in the team after scores of 17 and 14 in England's defeat by 381 runs in the first Test in Barbados.

"The Ashes is still seven months away so a lot can happen in sport — four Tests, but a lot can happen in that time," Cook told BBC's Test Match Special podcast.

"Jonathan Trott came in and did well in a big Test match when we had to win a game and he got 100 (on debut in 2009) — you have to deal with what's in front of you."

For Denly it represents a late chance to prove his worth ahead of the English summer, which will see Joe Root's side take on Ireland at Lord's before the Ashes series against Australia gets under way at Edgbaston on Aug. 1.

The 32-year-old, who has not opened in first-class cricket since 2015, enjoyed an remarkable 2018 domestic season in which he scored 1729 runs in all formats, alongside claiming 57 wickets with his leg-spin bowling.

"It's great opportunity for Joe," Cook added. "He's had an interesting couple of years in county cricket, taking on more responsibility at Kent and deserves his call-up." — Reuters