Yorkshire duo in England fight to face Aussies

The 25-year-olds from the White Rose have been waiting patiently Down Under for a crack at the Aussies and with Stuart Broad out for the series and Steven Finn the likely fall guy in the wake of England's third Test defeat in Perth, their time seems to have come.

Flower has confirmed he will stick with the four-man attack for the pivotal Melbourne Test but began to ease Finn out of the line-up by suggesting a five Test series is hard on everyone, particularly a 21-year-old.

Bresnan would be regarded as the next in line having originally been named in the 16-man squad but Shahzad, a later addition, has impressed with the touring Performance Squad and could come into contention having joined the senior party as a replacement for Broad.

For their captain at Yorkshire, Andrew Gale, the two seamers offer contrasting options for the Australian defence to deal with, with Shahzad deemed the higher wicket-taker and Bresnan the more controlled bowler who can add strength to a batting line-up dismissed for just 187 and 123 in Perth.

And while it is that consistency and experience that Gale believes gives Bresnan the edge, he has no worries that whoever is called upon, they are more than capable of delivering the goods and reigniting England's Ashes quest.

"Ajmal is more of a wicket-taker while Bressy is more of a holding bowler and can bat as well," said Gale, who has just returned from duty with the Performance Squad in Australia.

"And I think they'll go with the experience given how the series hangs in the balance.

"Bresnan is the sort of guy who doesn't feel that much pressure.

"He's a simple lad and he'll take it all in his stride, as if he was playing for Yorkshire or for Townville in the Central Yorkshire League.

"That's the way he always plays. He never gets nervous, he didn't get nervous even for the Twenty20 final.

"Ajmal is the sort of guy who will want to do really well and wants it really badly. He'll try so hard to perform well.

"And he needs those nerves to do that – they make him a better player."

Flower conceded England had been outplayed as Ricky Ponting's men squared the series inside three-and-a-half days, laying the blame for the loss squarely with his players.

But he did offer his understanding of the pressures heaped on his improving squad, particularly on the expensive Finn whose five wickets came at five an over and at a cost of 183 runs.

"I think we expect a lot of these young men, to come in and shoulder a lot of responsibility," said Flower, who is understandably concerned that with the series on a knife-edge England do not allow Australia to gain an advantage so cheaply.

"A five-Test series is hard on everyone – for the fast bowlers even more so. I think Steven Finn has done really well, for a 21-year-old coming into an Ashes series in Australia he's handled himself superbly – he's taken a lot of wickets in three Test matches.

"The workload on our bowlers is heavy, but in the absence of a quality all-rounder we're sticking with our four-man attack.

"We've got a few days now to re-assess prior to Melbourne and the bottom line is we'll pick the XI that we think will have the best chance of winning there."

Ryan Harris, the Australia quick who was signed to play alongside Bresnan and Shahzad for Yorkshire last summer, yesterday cranked up the pressure by saying the hosts now have 'the edge' over the tourists following the ease of their win in Perth.

And the Aussies have reportedly switched wickets in Melbourne in an attempt to negate the threat of England spinner Graeme Swann, as they look to build on their momentum and wrest the urn back.

But Gale believes that whatever the conditions, his two Yorkshire team-mates will revel in an Ashes debut.

He particulalry feels that Shahzad's ability to find reverse swing could yet play on the minds of selectors ahead of the final two Tests.

"Ajmal likes to pitch the ball up, to swing it," he said.

"A big asset of his is his reverse swing. If the ball does deteriorate he will come into play.

"Bressy bowls a heavy ball and will get a lot of bounce out of the pitch.

"But both will relish it and both will deliver for England if called upon.

"They've waited for their chance and Bresnan in particular will be chomping at the bit. Ajmal is not as experienced but he will be raring to go.

"From a Yorkshire point of view it's great to have them both out there and on the verge of playing in an Ashes Test."

Gale was at the WACA to watch the first day's play after spending a month Down Under that he described as highly beneficial in understanding what it takes to be an international cricketer.

And although he missed England's subsequent collapse, he remains bullish that they will retain the Ashes.

"England are strong enough to come back, they are by far the better team overall," said Gale, who is back on international duty on January 24 when along with county team-mates Jonny Bairstow, Adam Lyth and Adil Rashid he will fly out with the Performance Squad to the Caribbean for a two-month tour.

"They've had a couple of off-days but I'm sure they'll bounce back from it and pull together.

"I don't think changing the pitch in Melbourne will pose England with much of a threat.

"They'll still win it 3-1 for me."