When England's golden generation conquered down under: Ten years on with Tim Bresnan

“There’s a saying that things you do in your career don’t quite sink in until you’ve finished and had the chance to reflect properly.” Explains a rosy faced Tim Bresnan after just finishing a pre-season fitness session in the indoor nets at Yorkshire cricket’s Headingley HQ.

The Yorkshiremen’s finest period of his cricketing career came a decade ago this coming winter as he was part of the England squad that went down under to look to retain the Ashes.

Bresnan made his England test debut in the summer of 2009 with Peter Moores in charge. However, Moores parted with the national team before the 2009 Ashes series which saw the introduction of stern-faced Zimbabwean legend Andy Flower. Flower set out on a mission to revive English cricket and take them to the top of the world game.

After successfully working their way up the rankings after regaining the 2009 Ashes, the 2010/11 series would be a totally different challenge on Australian soil. Flower knew his side needed to be tough and his side embarked on a pre-tour military style camp.

“We went to Germany first which was brutal which brought a togetherness with a shared hardship type thing which is what Andy Flower is all about. “Said Bresnan.

"That’s what he tried to instil in us that if you can survive this you can survive anything together. It did kind of work, we had a lot of team spirit.

 “We played for each other, not the coaches or the fans which is quite rare especially in Cricketing terms because you’re out there on your own most of the time.”

The Pontefract-born bowler had only featured three times for Flower in his tenure before the winter series but he would be ready to fight for his country at any given moment. 

Bresnan’s moment came late in the series in the infamous boxing day test at the MCG with the series locked at 1-1.

“To be honest I didn’t really expect to play, the lads were doing pretty well. 

“Finny (Steven Finn) was going well and was leading wicket taker but I suppose it was expensive and not what he was asked to do. 

“My role was basically simple. Hold an end up, go for no runs and bowl in the tough periods where the ball is not really doing much. That was my role, I wasn’t even asked to take many wickets, maybe if you can get a couple of outstanding balls but I just tried to keep it tight and bowl with Swanny (Graeme Swann).” Bresnan said as the sound of cork on willow rung around the Headingley indoor nets.

Bresnan finished the series with the best bowling average from either side with a rate of 19.74 runs per wicket taken by the broad-shouldered Yorkshiremen.

“From not expecting to play to turning up and bowling on boxing day with a wicket that was offering quite a bit for the seamers and managed to bowl them out for 98 which is always a good start. We just bossed it from there and put them on the back foot.”

A look of amusement came upon the Yorkshiremen’s face as he reflected on the celebrations which gives a feeling that the saying ‘what goes on tour stays on tour’ was agreed by the squad.

“Melbourne was pretty subdued to be honest. In the changing room we just had a few beers as we’d already retained the ashes. We went out had a few quite ones locally and I certainly didn’t make it to the nightclub because at the end of the day we knew we had another test to win.

“It was relatively quiet New Year's Eve. We just went to a restaurant for a few beers but nothing out of the ordinary. Lads were focused on really making a mark and making a statement and ending the series 3-1. That’s what we did and after Sydney we went absolutely mental.”

“I just remember KP (Kevin Pietersen) and Matt Prior bowling out of the back of an ambulance at four in the morning outside the hotel which was pretty funny.

“We had a lot of fun off the field when the times were right around but when the test matches came in a bit of a rush and we had a job to do so settled down.” Said Bresnan.

The series victory down under was England’s first since the 1986/87 series and saw the side retain the Ashes and continue the march to world number one. 

“That whole period from 2009 to 2014 was pretty special. We had five years when we won a lot of cricket, won a lot of competitions and were best in the world at all three formats at one point. 

“It was a special period to be involved in and one I’m sure everyone remembers fondly.”