Bresnan confident of Ashes return

Tim Bresnan, who was replaced by Chris Woakes in their tour of New Zealand, has shown signs of improvement and is in contention for the Ashes. He had a second elbow operation, which forced him to miss the tour of New Zealand, but he is now looking forward to playing for Yorkshire on April 16.

This county match would certainly be a test of his fitness, as England have a home series against New Zealand in May before the Champions Trophy.

“I was lacking a little bit of pace for the last year, which was something I didn’t really want to admit to myself,” he said. “One day I’d bowl brisk, and the next day I’d just have nothing. I knew it was the elbow but you’re in that position ‘I’m still doing a job but am I doing it to the best of my ability?’ And the answer to that question was probably ‘no’.

“I’m actually excited now about the future, whereas, because I was bowling in a little bit of pain, it’s always in the back of your mind that you’re not giving it the full beans because it might hurt you.”

He continued: “You just can’t get away with it against India. Here against the West Indies, absolutely fine, because it’s swinging, bit of reverse, maybe a bit of nibble. In India: nothing. There’s no hiding.

“I think the time during the first Test when Sehwag just picked me up off a good length and hit me for six, I just went: ‘Wow, I’m not bowling quick enough here’. I think it was Goochie in a way who just said: ‘Look mate, I can tell you’re not right. I don’t know what you’ve been saying to the medical staff but you should be at a place now where you’re approaching your peak but you’ve just levelled off a bit’.”

Bresnan has said that he wants to be a bowler who can win matches for his side.

“I’ve only got six or seven five-fors. You never put me down for a truck load of wickets but stick me down for three an innings, which in anyone’s money is solid going. But if I want to be remembered as a cricketer, I was erring towards the stage where I was like, I don’t really want it to be that, I want it to be like: ‘He can win you games’.”