Ajmal Shahzad has the talent to keep me out of Test team, says Bresnan

Both Bresnan and Shahzad will hope to be in the squad for the first npower Test against Pakistan at Trent Bridge later this month, but England's selection policy this summer suggests there would be room for only one of them in the team.

When Bresnan was injured for the Second Test against Bangladesh at Old Trafford, Shahzad was the man to step in. And when England chose to rest first Bresnan and then Jimmy Anderson during the one-day series against the Tigers, Shahzad played in the defeat in Bristol and the victory at Edgbaston.

Bresnan and Shahzad are due to play for Yorkshire in this week's County Championship Division One match against Essex at Chelmsford. As well as attempting to keep their county at the top of the table, both will seek to make a convincing case for Test selection.

Yet, even though the pair are rivals, Bresnan is confident Shahzad has the talent to succeed in international cricket.

"It is difficult, but it is a squad game, and the strength in depth we have means we've got options," said Bresnan. "I missed out when Ajmal played in Bristol because of the rotation policy, but I don't mind that.

"It gave me a bit of a break, and it gave him a chance to show his ability. He has all the attributes. He has pace, he is lively, he has a good bouncer, a decent slower ball and he can bat a bit as well, so there is no reason why he can't be the next emerging all-rounder for England. He definitely has the ability to be classed as an all-rounder. There is no doubt. He has shown it in county cricket, but it can take a little bit of time to transfer what you've done in the first-class game into the England team.

"It takes you a little while to find your feet, but I'm sure he can do that."

Bresnan will take on Essex at Chelmsford with a new clarity of vision, thanks to laser eye treatment for myopia and astigmatism at the Accuvision Laser Eye Clinic in Parsons Green, south-west London last week. Yet even with 20/20 vision, the 25-year-old still has to work hard to adapt to the challenges posed by switching frequently between the different forms of cricket — Test, Twenty20 and 50-over matches.

The fixture at Chelmsford will be his first four-day match since May, as he has become accustomed to a diet of one-day cricket against Australia and Bangladesh. To merit inclusion at Trent Bridge, Bresnan must demonstrate that he can pick up where he left off in the longer form of the game.

"In an ideal world, I'd have been able to play more first-class cricket this season, but the way the schedule is means it's not really possible," he admitted.

"It will be nice to go back to Yorkshire and work on a few things, get a few overs under my belt. Being able to play a first-class game at this stage of the season is ideal for me. Yorkshire are going well in Division One, and a first-class game means there is a chance to work on some technical things, especially with the Pakistan series coming up.

"I don't suppose there will be much call for slower-ball bouncers in Test cricket, which is what we've been bowling for the last couple of months. It's an adjustment you need to make, and you need to make it quickly if you want to be successful."

The signs are that England will take on a Pakistan side in a characteristic state of chaos following the resignation of Shahid Afridi after just one Test in charge as captain.

Afridi's ludicrous batting performance in last week's defeat by Australia at Lord's prompted him to quit Test cricket.

Opening batsman Salman Butt will lead the team in the second MCC Spirit of Cricket Test against the Aussies, which begins at Headingley on Wednesday, but there could be recalls for exiled batsmen Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf for the four matches against England.