Bresnan injury opens door for Sidebottom at Old Trafford

TIM Bresnan's injury-enforced absence at Old Trafford is a regrettable turn of events for England coach Andy Flower – because the Yorkshire seamer needs more Test cricket, not less.

Bresnan has had to be replaced in a 12-man squad by Ryan Sidebottom for the second npower Test, against Bangladesh in Manchester on Friday, after suffering a stress fracture to his left foot in the eight-wicket victory England completed at Lord's.

"He showed a lot of skill when he bowled and nous – he made very good decisions under pressure, and I thought he was very calm," Flower said.

Bresnan also impressed Flower with his batting – at number seven, often a critical position in Twenty20 cricket – and the coach added: "He has had a really positive effect on the England cricket side."

"He had a tricky Test match in that some of the habits he picked up playing the very short form of the game weren't necessarily great habits for Test cricket, and it's just going to take a while to iron those out.

"I was looking forward to seeing how he performed in Manchester on a bouncy wicket and seeing how quickly he could adapt back into being a Test bowler. But that's the way the cookie crumbles."

Flower does not anticipate Bresnan's injury will keep him out too long, because it has been diagnosed very early.

In his absence, though, if England persist with a four-man attack at Old Trafford – and that is far from certain – Sidebottom will face a straight fight with the uncapped Ajmal Shahzad for the third seamer's role.

True to type, Flower has given nothing away about who may get the nod to bowl behind James Anderson and Steve Finn – who came in at Lord's in place of the rested Stuart Broad.

The issue of rotation, with next winter's Ashes and World Cup already high on the agenda, continues to exercise the minds of England's management.

Captain Andrew Strauss was allowed to miss the two-test tour of Bangladesh – returning with two half-centuries at Lord's – and Broad and Paul Collingwood have been prescribed rest from the ongoing series.

Flower is delighted to have Strauss back, and believes the captain can quickly make the position his own again."

Andrew Strauss is a very fine leader," said Strauss, "and whenever he stands up in that changing room and speaks he is very impressive, so we are thankful to have him back."

Broad, meanwhile, has made it clear he would prefer to have played at Lord's and Old Trafford rather than undertake a short period of 'intensive strengthening' work on his still-narrow 6ft 4in frame.

Flower said: "I would have been disappointed if he had been happy about missing out on playing for England.

"But he handled it very maturely when I spoke to him.

"He is a smart young man and he acknowledged there and then that he understood the reasons why.

"He will maximise the opportunity to get the specialist strength training.

"There are some areas (on his body] that have been identified, but it is general strengthening with a view to the long term."

England squad: AJ Strauss (captain), JM Anderson, IR Bell, AN Cook, ST Finn, EJG Morgan, KP Pietersen, MJ Prior (wicketkeeper), A Shahzad, RJ Sidebottom, GP Swann, IJL Trott.