For the stage he is at in his career Root has done very well, both in Test cricket and in the shorter forms of the game. As for Bresnan, we all know that his role is to bowl the hard overs - he rarely if ever sees the new ball or gets a pop at the tailenders - as such, his record stands comparison with most quicks in international cricket. Influential in two Ashes series victories, a key part of the team that got to number one in the world, unbeaten in his first 13 tests - I think that stands as a decent career to date (even if I am skeptical about how much he will add to it)
now that is a proper response manormanic, see you can do it. we don't have to agree, but its well thought out and expressed.
I like root, I don't see how he's done well (not against aust at least, yes I do know he made 100, I saw it and thought he batted magnificently on that occassion) but I think picking and dropping kids is complete mismanagement. IF Bell had batted at 3 from Adelaide onwards (AS HE SHOULD HAVE) and root batted at 5, root may well still have been in the side.
I was disappointed with Bresnan this series. However, understand coming straight back from injury into elite level is extremely difficult. you rightly point out that Bresnan is an integral part of the successes of the team. he's a hell of a cricketer.