Key England bowlers will be ready for first Test

Graeme Swann and Tim Bresnan are both expected to overcome injuries in time for the first Test with South Africa on July 19.

England's premier spin bowler Swann has been fighting to overcome a chronic elbow injury that flared up in the one day series against Australia. He has been treated with cortisone injections into the joint in the hope this will speed up his recovery in time for the first Test, and the backroom staff are confident that their man will be ready for the visiting Proteas. Bresnan has been in excellent form for England over the past couple of years and in order to keep him fit for the Test series head coach Andy Flower didn't think twice about resting him for the final ODI with the Aussies. Flower described bowling as a "strenuous exercise," so injury is inevitable due to their relentless schedule, but believes that thanks to the work of the medical staff, Swann and Bresnan will both be available for selection for the first Test. One advantage of resting the two bowlers was that it gave other players and opportunity to impress the selectors. James Tredwell took two wickets in the fifth ODI and Steven Finn was deadly all series. England will be looking to continue their rich vein of form this summer against the team just one rating point below them in the Test rankings. The first Test begins on July 19 at Lord's.