England ponder Bresnan fitness as Rankin eyes Ashes

England know the bulk of a squad due to be announced tomorrow for a tour of Australia that will see them try to win a fourth straight Ashes series for the first time since the 19th Century.
The fact England, who beat arch-rivals Australia 3-0 in a Test series on home soil to retain the urn, rested regular captain Alastair Cook, batsman Ian Bell and bowlers James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann from the subsequent 2-1 one-day series loss was testament to the importance they place on the Ashes.
But while the first-choice XI, with star batsman Kevin Pietersen set to play his 100th Test in November's opener in Brisbane, largely picks itself, the choice of back-up squad members is likely to have led to some prolonged discussions for a selection panel led by ex-England off-spinner Geoff Miller.

One question regards the fitness of bowling all-rounder Tim Bresnan, who missed the fifth Test at The Oval, as well as the one-dayers, with a stress fracture of his back.
Twice an Ashes-winner, Bresnan when fit fills the tricky position of third seamer in a four-man attack and the Yorkshireman played a key role during England's 2010/11 3-1 series win in Australia.
Someone else who starred in that series, after replacing Steven Finn in Perth, is Surrey fast bowler Chris Tremlett, whose career has been blighted by several injuries.
Both Tremlett and Finn fit the mould of tall fast bowlers favoured by England's Australian bowling coach David Saker.

But so too does former Ireland international Boyd Rankin who impressed for his adopted country during the one-day series as did all-rounder Ben Stokes, also uncapped at Test level.