Yorkshire captain Andrew Gale is confident neither Tim Bresnan nor Ajmal Shahzad will let England down if they are selected for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

With the Ashes series locked at 1-1 after Australia’s crushing win in Perth, England look set to change their bowling attacking for the game at the MCG, with white rose pace duo Bresnan and Shahzad vying to get the nod.

Gale, who has just returned from duty with the England Performance Squad in Australia, believes Bresnan would offer captain Andrew Strauss more control but also feels Shahzad carries more of a threat with the ball.

He said: “Ajmal is more of a wicket-taker, while Bressy is more of a holding bowler and can bat as well. I think they’ll go with the experience, given how the series hangs in the balance.

“Bresnan is the sort of guy who doesn’t feel that much pressure. He’s a simple lad and he’ll take it all in his stride, as if he was playing for Yorkshire or for Townville in the Central Yorkshire League.

“That’s the way he always plays. He never gets nervous – he didn’t get nervous even for the Twenty20 final.

“Ajmal is the sort of guy who will want to do really well and wants it really badly. He’ll try so hard to perform well and he needs those nerves to do that – they make him a better player.

“Both will relish it and both will deliver for England if called upon.”