Bresnan to have elbow operation in USA

By Graham Hardcastle

Yorkshire’s Tim Bresnan is due to have a second operation on his problematic right elbow in America later this month. The all-rounder has been forced out of England’s current tour to New Zealand, but is hoping to prove his fitness ahead of a busy twelve months, including a summer Test series against the Kiwis, back-to-back Ashes series and a one-day Champions Trophy.

White Rose captain Andrew Gale expects Bresnan, his brother-in-law, to fly out to the States next week to have the operation and then some rehabilitation.

The 27-year-old could then fly out to Barbados on the county’s pre-season tour in March before starting the county season in April. If everything goes to plan, he could play in four County Championship matches ahead of the first Test of the summer against New Zealand at Lord’s, starting on May 16.

Bresnan has been at Headingley doing some light fitness work with his county colleagues this week. “He has been back in training with us just doing a little bit of running,” confirmed Gale. “He’s going out to America in the next week or so, and he’ll be there for a week or two to have an operation and then some rehab on his elbow.

“He might then come to Barbados on pre-season or he might not. But he’s certainly going to have to prove his fitness if he’s going to get back in the England side for that first Test match (against New Zealand), which is in the first or second week of May. Hopefully we will see a bit of him early in the season. That will be a bonus.”

Bresnan’s last operation came in late 2011 after a one-day series in India. He has just returned from a similar tour, where he played through the pain and took four wickets in the last match of a 3-2 series defeat.

“At this point I’d say it probably is realistic for him to start the season,” added Gale. “But I guess it all depends on how his trip to America goes. You’re never quite sure with elbows and how they’re going to react to operations, as it showed when he had his last operation and it took him longer to come back from than he thought.”

Date: 06/02/2013 21:58:03 by Graham Hardcastle
In: Yorkshire | Today | England |