Recurrence of Ashes injury sees Bresnan miss Tests

TIM BRESNAN will miss the three-match Test series against Sri Lanka with a calf injury.

The Yorkshire pace bowler could be out for six weeks following a recurrence of the problem that forced his early return from the tour of Australia.

England last night confirmed Bresnan is highly unlikely to feature in the series which starts in Cardiff on May 26 and is scheduled to finish on June 20.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It is a bitter blow to the 26-year-old, who had hoped to continue his preparation in today’s County Championship match against Lancashire at Liverpool.

Bresnan aggravated the problem during last week’s Championship match against Hampshire at Headingley.

He complained of tightness in his right calf and was forced to sit out the closing stages of the game. A scan on Monday confirmed he has once more torn the troublesome muscle.

The Pontefract-born player, who has made seven Test and 42 one-day international appearances, had only just returned following a six-week rest after the World Cup and had looked in fine fettle.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He took 2-34 during his first appearance of the season in a CB40 game against Kent at Canterbury and backed that up with a fine display in the four-day contest against Hampshire.

Bresnan top-scored with 87 in the Yorkshire first innings and also looked in good form with the ball, taking five wickets in the match including a superb spell of 7-3-7-3 on the final day which should have inspired Yorkshire to complete a victory.

The Sri Lanka series had promised to be key for a man who is looking to cement his place in the Test line-up. Although Bresnan played a big role in the Ashes triumph, he faces tough competition from the likes of Stuart Broad, who missed the last three Ashes Tests through injury.

James Anderson and Chris Tremlett were both outstanding against Australia, while Steven Finn, Jade Dernbach, Graham Onions and Yorkshire’s Ajmal Shahzad are among those also knocking on the door.