Bresnan is very keen to serve but not to wait

The 25-year-old Yorkshireman is one of England's chosen 16 charged with retaining the famous little urn Down Under.

It is an illustrious party for the pace bowler from Pontefract to be among, one whose members have the opportunity to be feted as heroes for decades to come.

But it is also one that offers no guarantee of fame and fortune. For should Bresnan be overlooked for selection as a frontline bowler for the first Test in Perth on November 25, it could be the start of a long winter spent carrying drinks onto the field to the 11 players regarded as England's best – as his Yorkshire team-mate Adil Rashid will testify.

A little more than 12 months ago, the Bradford-born leg-spinner was firmly entrenched in the England set-up until a couple of poor spells in South Africa saw him subjugated first to the role of drinks supplier and then to the international wilderness.

Rashid is now on a break from all cricket after missing out on the Ashes and Performance squads bound for Australia and will not return to the game until Yorkshire reconvene for pre-season training in the new year.

Credit to Rashid, he has continued to take wickets and improve his game in county cricket, but his spell as 12th man for England is one he will never want to repeat, nor one Bresnan will be keen to emulate.

"I don't intend to just make up the numbers when I'm out there," said a defiant and determined Bresnan who is vying with James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Steven Finn and Chris Tremlett for a start in England's pace attack.

"I definitely think I could play as the fourth bowler. I will back myself in any position or situation that's put in front of me.

"Hopefully I'll have the captain and coach's backing in any of those roles I could possibly have.

"I'm just looking forward to getting a chance to give it a good crack. No one in the squad knows what the team is going to be.

"Most of the guys are the same. There is a real confidence in the squad and we're just itching to get out there.

"Obviously the conditions and the wickets will come into account. I just want my name to be on the team sheet so I can show what I can do."

Bresnan's progress through the England ranks has been steady, if unspectacular.

After representative honours through the age groups, he got his chance in one-day cricket against Sri Lanka at Lord's in June 2006.

It is in the one-day game that he has flourished with 36 wickets taken at an average of 39.30 and 408 runs scored at 25.50 in the 33 matches he has played.

He also contributed to England's World Twenty20 triumph in May, taking three wickets and three catches en route to victory over Australia in the Bridgetown final.

Statistics aside, Bresnan impressed in the West Indies with his repeated ability to hit his straps early to give England control with the new ball.

It is in the Test-match arena, however, that the Castleford High and Pontefract College-educated quick bowler is least experienced.

He has played just five Tests since making his debut against the West Indies in May 2009. Only Bangladesh, other than the declining greats, have provided Bresnan with Test match opposition, with his last match coming against Bangladesh at Lord's on May 27.

He has 14 wickets at an average of 35.14 and on the three occasions he has wielded the bat, Bresnan has made 125 runs for his country, with a top score of 91 in Dhaka in March.

Bresnan can assume the role of all-rounder if needs be, with his stocky stature drawing parallels with Andrew Flintoff whose contributions over the last three Ashes series have often proved pivotal.

In the Lancastrian's absence, England are lacking a physical bully, but with Andrew Strauss's men on a high after a run of Test victories and that trophy triumph in the Caribbean, Bresnan is adamant there is enough character and strength in the camp to ensure they become the first England team to win the Ashes Down Under for 23 years.

"Being a Yorkshireman I've come through a lot of good dressing rooms and the Yorkshire dressing room at the minute is awesome," he said, having contributed in six of Yorkshire's County Championship matches in a breakthrough 2010.

"But the England dressing room as it stands is very much a different atmosphere. It's immense, everyone is working towards one goal for each other.

"We have an immense team spirit. It spurs you on to be a part of it and it's very exciting to be a part of something special.

"Winning the Ashes last summer made us stronger. It pulled us together, we know nothing can knock us off course now. We don't fear anybody in the world now."