Tim Bresnan misses final Ashes Test with back injury

Tim Bresnan (L) celebrates after dismissing Australia’s Shane Watson during day four of 4th Ashes Test match between England and Australia at Durham

English medium-pacer Tim Bresnan has been ruled out of the fifth and final Ashes Test match as well as the remaining of the international series consisting of two T20 internationals followed by a five match ODI series against Australia, after suffering a stress fracture of the lower back during the fourth Ashes Test at Durham.

Bresnan, who was dropped for the first Test played at Trent Bridge, came in to the side for the Lord’s Test after replacing fast bowler Steve Finn and made his presence count with both bat and the ball, picking up 10 wickets in the series, along with his timely contribution with the bat in the thrilling fourth Test at Chester-le-Street.

Although the final match at the Oval is a dead game, England will be keen to demoralise the visitors with an outright victory and Bresnan would have certainly been looking forward to ending the series on a high note. However, with the injury getting the better of him, the 28-year old will begin a recovery and rehabilitation programme and a date for his return to cricket will be announced shortly.

The injury is the second serious blow to the Yorkshire all-rounder in his career, after he underwent a surgery on his right elbow back in February this year. The operation, nevertheless, was almost like a blessing in disguise for the right-arm bowler as it gave him back the hyper-extension he had lost, and which is believed to have revitalised his pace attack.