Tim Bresnan confident of World Cup fitness

Tim Bresnan

Seamer Tim Bresnan is set to make a quicker than expected recovery from the calf injury he sustained in Australia, but England are still struggling to find 11 fit players for their first World Cup warm-up game against Canada.

Both Bresnan and fellow fast bowler Stuart Broad (illness) are expected to miss Wednesday’s hit-out, but the former may yet roll his arm over when England conclude their preparations against Pakistan on Friday.

"It's feeling pretty good. I hope I can get a warm-up game, but will definitely be targeting the start of the tournament," Bresnan told a media conference. "I've not bowled 100 per cent since I did it. But I'm definitely back bowling 80 to 85 per cent. I want to get in a few sessions at 100 per cent before I take the field for a competitive game.

“If you can't get up for the World Cup, then you probably can't get up for anything," Bresnan added.

But with Bresnan, Broad and Graeme Swann (who is back home awaiting the birth of his first child) all set to miss the match against Canada, England have reportedly requested special dispensation from the ICC to include paceman Chris Tremlett (who is not a part of their World Cup squad) in their team for their first warm-up match.

While the news regarding Bresnan’s progress is encouraging, Eoin Morgan’s post on his Twitter page yesterday was more bittersweet.

Morgan’s broken finger sees him replaced in the World Cup squad by Ravi Bopara, but the Irishman has since tweeted: “Some good news this morning..no need for an op on my finger..pretty much healed..will be back sooner than expected!!”.

Even if Morgan regains full fitness while the World Cup is in progress, he can only be reinstated in England’s squad in the event one of their other batsmen sustains an injury during the tournament.

Kim Coverdale

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