England will be without paceman Tim Bresnan in their opening three-day tour match against an ICC Combined XI starting here from Saturday, one of two side games before the three-Test series against Pakistan. The 26-year-old paceman, who still has soreness in the elbow which was operated on last month, is likely to be fit for the second warm-up match before the first Test starts here from January 17.
“Bresnan has still got a bit of swelling in his elbow as a reaction to his operation, so he’s not quite ready yet,” Andrew Strauss, the England captain, said on Friday. “We’re aiming for the second warm-up game with him.” England play a Pakistan Cricket Board XI in the second side match, also to be played in Dubai, from January 11-13. Bresnan took 16 wickets in the three Tests he played against India at home last year — a series which lifted Strauss’s men to number one in Test rankings. Lanky pacemen Chris Tremlett or Steven Finn can fill in Bresnan’s place although Tremlett also has an eye infection, which Strauss believed would not hinder his bowling. The ICC (International Cricket Council) will be led by Ireland skipper William Porterfield and is comprised of players from Associate countries.
Strauss said: “We want to get the intensity right right from the start and that is going to be the challenge for us. Obviously getting used to these conditions is important as we have to find ways to take wickets, if the wicket is flat,” said England captain.
England will be playing in United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the first time in a series shifted here over security fears in Pakistan. “It is very important to get as much cricket as possible prior to that first Test match but to a certain extent there is likely to be some changes between the two games. “It has always been our philosophy we got to get the starting eleven as prepared as possible before the first Test match,” said Strauss whose team will play their first Test since beating India 4-0 in August last year.
The second Test will be played in Abu Dhabi (January 25-29) and the third in Dubai (February 3-7). The Tests will be followed by four one-day and three Twenty20 internationals. Strauss praised the idea of putting a Combined XI from Associate countries. “I think it is a good idea from the ICC and it is a great shop window for some of the players from the associate nations and to certain extent we know some of the players but not all of them so we need to be prepared,” said Strauss. Strauss said players were excited to begin a tour after a break.
