Bresnan throws down gauntlet for Ashes call

Tim Bresnan yesterday put his hand up for a key role in England's Ashes defence with a devastating display in England's final warm-up game against Australia A.

The 25-year-old Yorkshireman was left behind in Hobart to contest England's final friendly as the four-man frontline attack were sent to Brisbane ahead of the first Ashes Test next Thursday.

Bresnan responded with a three-wicket haul that left the selectors in no doubt that if and when he is called upon, he can come in and wreak havoc on the Australian batting line-up.

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Doubts remain, outside and inside the England dressing room, over the impact the Pontefract-born seamer can have on a top-class batting line-up with the West Indies and Bangladesh the only teams he has faced in the Test-match arena.

But after taking two wickets in the first innings, Bresnan took three more yesterday morning in an emphatic response to being excluded.

James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Steven Finn might be the favoured seam trio at present – with spinner Graeme Swann completing the attack for Brisbane – but Bresnan hopes he can play his way into the side for the later Tests in Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney.

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"We'll all be working very hard. We're not saying the final XI is picked yet," said Bresnan of the task he and his fellow back-up seamers, Ajmal Shahzad and Chris Tremlett, face.

"It's going to be a tough winter for all concerned, and I think it's going to be a massive squad effort to win this Ashes.

"Andy (Flower) said the other day he'll be very surprised if the same XI plays all five games.

"I will, too – whether that be injury or form or anything else. You never know what can happen.

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"We've been pushed to our limits, getting us ready for whatever can happen."

Bresnan took his chance to show what he can do by ending an opening stand of 66 between Phillip Hughes (58no) and Ed Cowan when the latter dragged a pull on to his stumps. He also had No 3 Khawaja edging behind first ball and then bowled Ferguson with one that kept low.

"I'm obviously pleased to get wickets – but I don't think it matters who they are," said Bresnan, who put himself on the verge of a hat-trick as Australia A were reduced to 128-3 in their second innings, needing 293 to make England bat again on the final day.

"We're in the best position we can be to win this game and we want to win it. We're not thinking about declaring early, we've got a lot of hard work to do tomorrow."

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Bresnan's performance in Hobart drew widespread acclaim from his county team-mates back home in Yorkshire to the batsmen he has faced.

"I thought he bowled really well," said left-hander Hughes, who, like Bresnan, is fighting to force his way into his national team.

"To go bang, bang, bang like that is always a good sign. He bashed the wicket away all day and he was very consistent with his lines.

"I thought Tremlett bowled quite good lines as well. But when Bresnan came on and took those three wickets, that was the 'stand-out'."

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And Ryan Sidebottom was also fulsome in his praise for the way his new Yorkshire team-mate has grabbed his opportunity. "Tim has been very consistent for a long time now and he's got a great chance of battling for those three seam bowling spots," said left-armer Sidebottom, who retired from Test cricket in September.

"All the Tests are back to back, so they may rest a player, and it's a massive boost for him to be doing well, and for the team as a whole that back-up bowlers are performing.

"Ajmal has also shown this week what a good bowler he is and that when bowling regularly he can come in with those sorts of spells.

"Right now the key for Tim and Ajmal is to just concentrate on working hard, and hopefully they will get their rewards.

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"There's no better feeling than playing for England, and they just have to stay ready all the time, because they never know when all of a sudden a door could open."

Bell's performance was equally impressive, particularly with the Warwickshire batsman a certainty to face the Aussies in Brisbane.

Hughes described the innings as "awesome" as his Australia A side were left battling to salvage a draw after Bell and Paul Collingwood (89) shared a sixth-wicket stand of 240 in England's 523 all out.

Hughes has noted England's confidence and expects them to be just as buoyant when the first-choice attack returns next week.

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"They're going to be fired-up and aren't going to back down, with momentum behind them it's going to be a great contest for the Australian batsmen," Hughes predicted.

"The way England are playing, there is no doubt they are going to be confident."

He anticipates England will also plan to test Australia captain Ricky Ponting with the short ball, against which he seems to have become vulnerable.

"I'm sure they will bowl bouncers at Ponting," he agreed.

"But the stats tell you he's an unbelievable player, without a doubt one of the best I've seen.

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"I'm sure Ricky will play beautifully through the Ashes series."

Fighting for first test places

England's FIRST-CHOICE SEAM ATTACK:

James Anderson (Age 28, Tests 52) – Can he handle the reduced swing of the Kookaburra?

Stuart Broad (Age 24, Tests 32) – Adaptable pace and combustible temperament.

Steven Finn (Age 21, Tests 8) – England's beanpole quick is the find of the summer, but untested at this level.

WAITING IN THE WINGS:

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Tim Bresnan (Age 25, Tests 5) – Yorkshire seamer knocking on the door in Hobart.

Chris Tremlett (Age 29, Tests 3) – Another tall bouncer who is vying with Bresnan for the first opportunity.

Ajmal Shahzad (Age 25, Tests 1) – Not in original squad but hungry reserve if called upon.

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