Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Bresnan is ready to resume his role as the dark horse of the team
England pace bowler Tim Bresnan has announced that he is confident he will be fully fit for the back-to-back Ashes series, starting on July 10 at Trent Bridge.
Bresnan underwent elbow surgery in the United States and seems extremely upbeat about his recovery and chances to make the starting XI for the first Ashes Test.
Bresnan’s surgery caused him to miss England’s tour to New Zealand, but despite being fully fit right now and England hosting New Zealand for a two-Test series, the national team continue to leave him out of the squad in order to retain their conventional pace trio of James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Steven Finn.
The Yorkshireman acknowledged that he knew his elbow was causing him problems throughout the past year, but was concerned about the ramifications of undergoing another surgical procedure on his elbow.
“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.”
In order to prolong his career, Bresnan spoke to Graham Gooch about his dilemma while the side were touring India in November last year.
“You just can’t get away with it against India,” Bresnan said. “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’.”
With Bresnan fit and healthy, the Yorkshireman is ready to resume his role as the dark horse of the side, whereby he gives his best everyday, but is never fully credited.
Despite not getting as much credit as he would like, Bresnan revealed what was behind his motivation levels being through the roof.
“I’ve only got six or seven five-fors,” he said. “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’.”