Injured Bresnan likely to miss Sri Lanka series

Tim Bresnan is set to miss the forthcoming Test series against Sri Lanka after a recurrence of his calf injury. The England and Wales Cricket Board yesterday stopped short of ruling the Yorkshire seamer out entirely, but a statement yesterday afternoon made it clear the 26-year-old is likely to play no part in the three-match series that begins in Cardiff next week.

Bresnan has been troubled by the same injury since shortly after the end of the Ashes, but was able to play a prominent role for England in their stuttering World Cup campaign in February and March. However, after Bresnan was ruled out of the County Championship match against Lancashire this week, he underwent scans on Monday.

The ECB statement confirmed that Bresnan "has sustained a torn right calf muscle and is likely to miss the three-match npower Test Series against Sri Lanka. This is a reoccurrence of an injury Bresnan first sustained earlier in the year during the ODI series against Australia". Bresnan's expected absence will provide an opportunity for his fellow Yorkshireman Ajmal Shahzad and Durham's Graham Onions to push for a place in England's first Test squad when they face Sri Lanka for the Lions at Derby this week.

Meanwhile, India opener Virender Sehwag is upbeat about his chances of being fit for the summer tour of England after undergoing surgery on his right shoulder last week.

The Delhi Daredevils captain pulled out of the Indian Premier League earlier this month due to a recurrence of the injury that has plagued him since 2009, raising doubts over his availability for the rest of the summer. But yesterday he said: "I think I will able to play the series in England. I should be fit in six to eight weeks."