Bresnan could rejoin England squad in UAE

Tim Bresnan could rejoin the England squad in the UAE within the next 48 hours if he passes an extensive fitness test.

Bresnan, 26, underwent surgery on an elbow injury in early December, but suffered discomfort when bowling in the nets at the start of England's tour of the UAE and it was decided to send him home before the Test series against Pakistan began. He underwent a fitness test at Headingley on Thursday and will have another on Friday to ascertain how he has recovered and whether he is up to the rigours of international cricket.

If he is deemed to have come through those tests successfully, Bresnan could fly back to the UAE as early as Saturday. He will then bowl in the nets in front of the England management before any decision is made over his inclusion in the squads for the limited-overs leg of the tour. The squad is scheduled to be named towards the end of the third Test between England and Pakistan currently taking place in Dubai. England are scheduled to play four ODIs and three T20Is in the UAE.

The news will also boost England's hopes of including Bresnan in the squad that plays two Tests in Sri Lanka from March 26. That squad will not be named until nearer the end of the current tour of the UAE.

Bresnan has become a fixture of the side in all three formats of the game. England have won all ten of the Tests in which he has played and his batting ability also offers them the potential of playing a five-man bowling attack with Matt Prior batting at six and Bresnan - who averages 45 in Test cricket - at seven.