Tim Bresnan believes his move to Warwickshire is "a good fit" for both himself and the Bears - and has revealed he has long-eyed Edgbaston as a potential home county ground.
The 35-year-old seamer, who has played 143 games for England across the formats, has joined the Bears just weeks after the news broke that his was leaving his native Yorkshire.
Bears’ Sport Director Paul Farbrace, with whom Bresnan worked in the England set-up and also at Headingley when Farbrace was on the White Rose coaching staff, was quick to get in touch – and the signing was swiftly sealed.
“It’s happened very quickly, within a week really,” said Bresnan. “I’ve still got a desire to play and a desire to win and the Bears give me a great opportunity to do that.
“I always had Warwickshire in the back of my mind as somewhere I would like to play. I’ve always liked the club and liked playing at Edgbaston. They are a good bunch of lads, with a few Yorkies in there for good measure, and when Farbs phoned me, I jumped at the chance to meet him.
Tim Bresnan
“I think it’s a good fit for both of us. The way Farbs explained how he sees the club going forward is exciting and I just can’t wait to get cracking with the boys. I’ve been around on the circuit for a long time so I know most of the Warwickshire lads quite well, like Jeets and Timmy Ambrose, and Belly and Woakesy from England duty, of course.
“I think I will fit in well to Farbs’s plans. From what I’ve seen it’s an exciting group of young players coming through and they’ve played a few games now, so it’s time for them to step up and become regulars. Farbs is keen that I help with that and pass on experience to the younger guys. I really enjoy that role, as well as playing my own game which I am really excited to keep that going.”
Bresnan is far from a stranger to Edgbaston, having played there many times for Yorkshire and also in two Tests, four ODIs and a T20I for England.
His first Test appearance in Birmingham, against India in 2011, was a momentous occasion as England’s innings-and-242-runs victory took them top of the ICC world rankings. The victory was clinched by Bresnan’s dismissal of former Bears paceman Sreesanth – a moment which remains immortalised on a wall of the Yorkshireman’s home.
“There is a Jack Russell print of the moment we got to number one in the world,” Bresnan said. “It’s me bowling to Sreesanth and he chips it to gully with the new stand in the background. I’ve got the print on my wall at home so I’ve been staring at Edgbaston for quite a while!
“I have played a lot for England at Edgbaston and really enjoy playing there. When the Hollies Stand gets going the atmosphere is absolutely fantastic, so hopefully there will be many more experiences like that over the coming years.”
