Cricket: Tim Bresnan winning World Cup fitness battle

Tim Bresnan is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a calf injury - but is not about to take any undue chances before his first World Cup.

The seam-bowling all-rounder, a mainstay of England's ICC World Twenty20 victory last year and then a secret weapon as they clinched the Ashes this winter, missed the last five matches of the 6-1 one-day international series defeat against Australia.

That finished only eight days ago, but Bresnan was back home by then after hurting himself in Hobart. Contrasting reports soon emerged about the seriousness of the Yorkshireman's injury, and he admits he was concerned at first that it might scupper his World Cup hopes.

"There were doubts whether it was a grade two, grade one (tear]," he said. "I think the fact that it bled so much probably led to the grey area.

"But I think we are slightly ahead of schedule now."

He confirmed: "It's feeling pretty good. I hope I can get a warm-up game, but will definitely be targeting the start of the tournament. I've not bowled 100 per cent since I did it. But I'm definitely back bowling 80 to 85 per cent. I want to get in a few sessions at 100 per cent before I take the field for a competitive game.

"It probably wasn't the ideal time to get injured. But the saving grace, silver lining, is that I have had a bit of time at home to relax and recharge my mind as well as my body."

England's collective wear and tear before such an important campaign - there are warm-up games against Canada today and Pakistan on Friday - brought publicly-voiced concerns from coach Andy Flower about their busy schedule.

Bresnan said: "It is pretty tight, but I want to play as much international cricket as I can. The coaches and medical staff are definitely concerned. But it's up to the boards to decide."

Bresnan is satisfied that England are in the right physical and mental shape to challenge for a second International Cricket Council global trophy in under a year.

"The (one-day] series in Australia was probably a blip in the cricket we've played over the last two years. We've got everyone fit now, and the guys have recharged their batteries back at home for four days - so we're feeling good. This is the World Cup. If you can't get up for the World Cup, then you probably can't get up for anything."