Hard to believe Tim Bresnan is still only 27. Maybe it's his physique, craggy features or simply how they breed 'em in Pontefract. However, he has graduated from being a bowling all-rounder in one-day cricket to a useful genuine all-rounder in Tests. His record of succssive victories in his first thirteen Tests has been beaten only by Adam Gilchrist, although unlike the Aussie legend, Bres has spread his appearances over a three-year period, stepping in to replace various injured pacemen from Broad to Finn.
He may not be the fastest, the best swinger of the ball or nimblest fielder but he is a proven wicket-taker with a Test average of 26 and has contributed nearly 400 runs in only 11 innings at an average of 40. OK, so that statistic may not be worth very much but those runs have often helped shore up the England late order to set up victories including against India last summer. He does have three first-class centuries to his name so the occasional 90 for England has not been a fluke, and maybe he would have scored even more had his international team mates been less successful with the bat. Coming in at 400-6 or something doesn't lend itself to big scores!
Bresnan was only 21 when his Yorkshire performances got him selected for the England ODI squad. He made his debut against Sri Lanka at Lord's in 2006 but there was to be no run of victories in 50-over cricket. His only wicket was that of Malinga, who gained revenge later on by bowling him for 16, swinging and missing a full-toss in a doomed run chase.
Since then he has become a regular in the side, especially in 2011. From 59 ODIs, he has only one 50 to his name, in the Champions League semi-final defeat to Australia in 2009, and one 'five-for' against India in the World Cup. However, he seems to have fewer fitness problems than some of his rivals and has done a reasonable, if not exceptional job for England. Same goes for his 20 T20 internationals. He fits easily into the category of wholehearted player, which can be reserved for those whose effort outperforms ability (echoes of my PE grades at school!) but he is no longer the first reserve who could be expected to stand down when Tremlett or Dernbach press for a place in the attack.
At 27, he could well have a couple more World Cups and plenty of Tests ahead of him. The Edgbaston rain may have ended his sequence of wins, but there's always Malcolm Marshall's phenomenal run of not losing any of his first 35 Tests. Of course, the West Indies were an amazing side at the time, and Marshall was one of the greatest fast bowlers ever. Nevertheless, while England are number one in the ICC rankings and provided they overcome South Africa this summer, Tim Bresnan may beat Mike Smith's (no relation!) England record of 19 consecutive Tests without defeat at the start of a career. Then, who knows?!
