Tim Bresnan has been added to England’s Ashes squad and is in the reckoning to play in the second Test in Adelaide.

The Yorkshire seamer, who suffered a stress fracture of his back in August, previously travelled with the squad but was not officially part of it up to and including the first Test in Brisbane.

He stayed behind there, while England headed to Alice Springs for a two-day tour match last week, and marked his comeback – for the Performance Programme against Queensland 2nd XI – with an unbeaten half-century and four first-innings wickets.

His return to the full squad was therefore anticipated, and the ECB confirmed it in a statement today, which read: “Tim Bresnan has been added to the England Test squad following his recovery from a back injury, and is available for selection.”

Bresnan is a serious contender to be selected as England’s third seamer on Thursday, after their wide-margin defeat in the series opener at the Gabba.