Bresnan wants to rekindle spirit of 2010

Cricket365
December 21, 2013

England seamer Tim Bresnan is eager to replicate – and better – December 2010's performance, when the fourth Ashes Test gets underway at the Melbourne Cricket Ground next week.

Bresnan clinched two key wickets at the same venue three years ago, as the tourists dismissed the hosts for a mere 98 in the first innings, which led to an innings and 157-run victory – and two-one series lead.

"I'm looking forward to it. Obviously, I have special memories there. I hope we can repeat some of that. Boxing Day should be pretty easy to get up for – there will be 98,000 or 100,000 people in there," said Bresnan. "If you can't get up for that, you're wrong in the head or something."

The English were dominant in the United Kingdom earlier this year, achieving a telling three-nil series win. They have since slipped to the reverse result in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, though.

"It was pretty sombre actually after the last day in Perth. We're obviously disappointed to lose the series, but if we bounce back well, I think we can make it three-two," added Bresnan.

The emergence of Perth centurion Ben Stokes and batsman Joe Root's solidity at three in the order in the absence of the experienced Jonathan Trott, who has left the tour due to a stress-related illness, has buoyed Bresnan.

"Stokes played out of his skin – and the way we played in the second innings to take it into the last day on that pitch, we can take a lot of confidence out of that. I think we've now found a solid number three in Joe and a solid number six in Ben," he concluded.

"A lot of people inside the changing room knew Stokes had it in him, to be able to do something like that. Now he's shown the world he can play like that, and get big runs at Test level."