11 Facts about Tim Bresnan - The Unsung Hero of English Cricket

A powerfully built all-rounder, Tim Bresnan had been tipped for higher honours since he became the youngest player in 20 years to represent Yorkshire when he debuted in 2001. It was nearly a decade later that he really announced his arrival in the big-time, however, with a phenomenal performance in the fourth Test against Australia in Melbourne in December 2010. Called into the side as a replacement for Steven Finn, and with a remit to keep the runs down, he starred with a performance of skill, pace and unrelenting accuracy.

1. Birth:

Timothy Thomas Bresnan, or Tim Bresnan as they call him, was born on February 28, 1985, in Pontefract, Yorkshire.

2. England Under-19:

Bresnan began his international career in the England Under-19 set-up and was part of the team in 2002 and 2003 – playing in two World Cups – the same years that he won the NBC Denis Compton Award for most promising Yorkshire player.

3. T20I debut against a debutant 11:

Bresnan had a forgettable international debut against Sri Lanka on 15th June 2006 in Southampton.  He got hammered for 20 runs in 2 overs and made an unbeaten 6 off 6 in a close match which England lost by 2 runs chasing a target of 164. This was a match which saw T20 International debuts for 4 other English players and the entire Sri Lankan team!

4. ODI debut:

Bresnan made his ODI debut on 17^th June 2006 at Lord’s against Sri Lanka in the 1st match of the NatWest series. The visitors made 257/9 and won the match by 20 runs as England failed to overhaul the target. Bresnan took 1/44 in his 9 overs and scored 16 off 21 in the unsuccessful run chase. He suffered an injury in the second half of the season as he lost his place for the series against Pakistan.

5. Beginning of Test:

After a better all-round summer in 2008, Bresnan was called up late in the season for the ODI. But after a winter without any honours it appeared he would have to bide his time again before he was surprisingly named in the Test squad to face West Indies. He duly played in both matches, but such was England’s dominance it wasn’t until the final day of the series that he finally made his mark. He claimed his maiden Test wicket in the second innings and eventual figures of 3 for 45, as West Indies slumped to an innings defeat.

6. Bangladesh tour and World T20:

While he hovered around the fringes of the Test side thereafter injuries during England’s tour to Bangladesh in 2010 opened the door and he impressed, showing good discipline and stamina in trying conditions. He then played an important role in delivering England the 2010 World Twenty20, showing skill and an unfailing ability to hit his straps early to give England control with the new ball, before returning at the end of the innings with steely death-bowling.

7. Ashes series:

Since the very start of his career, he had proved his value. In his first Ashes Series (Ashes 2010-11), he took nine wickets in just two tests, including a 4/50 in the second innings of the 4th Test in Melbourne that helped Strauss’s men to seal the deal.  He took the top-order wickets of Ricky Ponting, Shane Watson and Michael Hussey before taking the final wicket of Ben Hilfenhaus. That final wicket saw England win by an innings and 157 runs. In the first innings, he had bowled economically, taking 2/25 off 13 overs in the first innings as Australia were bowled out for just 98.

8. 2011 World Cup:

An injury to his calf forced Bresnan out of the series with Australia, however, he returned to the squad for the World Cup, held in the subcontinent in February to April. He took 1–49 as England got off to a winning start against the Netherlands. Bresnan took career best figures of 5/48 in England’s tied match against India.

9. Injury and return:

In the 2011 English cricket season in April, Bresnan suffered a recurrence of his calf injury and as a result was ruled out of England’s three-match Test series against Sri Lanka. It was an injury to seamer Chris Tremlett ahead of the second Test against India in the following home series that allowed Bresnan back into the side for the first time since the Ashes. Bresnan’s all-round effort, which included an innings of 90 and Test-best bowling figures of 5/48, helped England secure a 319-run win over India and go 2–0 up in the series.

10. A Memorable partnership:

Jonny Bairstow’s 219 not out and Bresnan’s undefeated 169 not out in June 2015 against Durham are their career-best scores in First-class cricket. Their stand of 366 – in 81 overs and 300 minutes, is the highest seventh-wicket partnership in the history of the County Championship, beating the 344 shared between K S Ranjitsinhji and Billy Newham for Sussex against Essex at Leyton in 1902.

11. International stats:

Bresnan has played 23 Tests and picked up 72 wickets while his willow has produced 575 runs including 3 fifties. His 85 ODIs have produced an impressive 109 wickets in 85 matches and 871 runs including 1 fifty. He has represented England in 34 T20Is and picked up 24 wickets. He has made 216 runs in this format including a top score of 47 not out.  He last played for his country in May 2015 against Ireland in an ODI.