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18-May-2011 02:37:00 GMT
Sri Lanka in England, 2011

Bresnan Likely to Miss Sri Lanka Test Series

London: Ashes-winning England seamer Tim Bresnan is "likely" to miss the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka with a recurrence of a calf injury, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said Tuesday.

"England medical staff confirmed that England and Yorkshire all-rounder Tim Bresnan has sustained a torn right calf muscle and is likely to miss the three match Test Series against Sri Lanka beginning in Cardiff on Thursday 26 May," an ECB statement said.

"This is a re-occurrence of an injury Bresnan first sustained earlier in the year during the ODI (one-day international) series against Australia.

A rehabilitation and recovery programme will be established in the coming days following further medical assessment."

Bresnan, 26, has been troubled by the injury since soon after the end of the Ashes and missed England's subsequent one-day series in Australia.

He returned home but recovered in time to play throughout England's faltering World Cup campaign in the subcontinent, which ended with a 10-wicket quarterfinal thrashing by co-hosts Sri Lanka in March.

Bresnan's latest injury happened during Yorkshire's County Championship fixture against Hampshire last week and, before England's announcement, he had already been ruled out of this week's 'Roses match' against Lancashire.

His absence creates a chance for fellow Yorkshireman Ajmal Shahzad and Durham's Graham Onions, himself only recently returned from long-term injury, to push their Test claims when they play for the second-string England Lions against Sri Lanka in Derby this week.

But, with England favouring a four-man attack that includes off-spinner Graeme Swann, the three seam bowling positions for the first Test are set to be filled by James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Chris Tremlett.

Bresnan arrived in Australia as England's fifth-choice paceman, but an injury to Broad and the decision to drop a fatigued Steven Finn saw him selected for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

In only his sixth Test, Bresnan took three second innings wickets in 18 balls, including Shane Watson, Australia captain Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey in a match England won by an innings and 157 runs to retain the Ashes.

England are due to name their first Test squad to play Sri Lanka on Sunday.


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