I'm ready for the Aussies, declares fired-up Nasser

When the dust had settled and his anger had subsided, Nasser Hussain yesterday pronounced himself ready to face the Australians.

The England captain's first innings for five weeks had been cut short at Old Trafford the previous evening, not by any pain from his recently broken thumb but by the momentary failure of his rusted judgment.

It still hurt. When umpire Nigel Cowley raised his finger to confirm he was leg-before, Hussain kicked up a storm of dust in the crease and marched off muttering.

An hour later a steward, standing guard over the Essex dressing room as gravely as a hospital orderly protecting a sickroom, warned: 'He won't talk to anyone - he's very upset.'

The whole nation will be relieved to hear it. Some intangible spirit disappeared from the England team when Hussain left it.

Nobody likes to lose, but he hates it more than most and that begrudging attitude somehow spreads, toughens and inspires. England have lost one Test and all six one-day internationals since that ball from Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar struck their leader during the first Test at Lord's.

Hussain aims to be back for the opening match of the Ashes series at Edgbaston on Thursday week, but he has few opportunities to play himself into form. He was kicking himself, rather than the turf, for missing one in the Norwich Union League game against Lancashire.

He had made 21 off 26 balls when he thought about playing forward to paceman Glen Chapple, changed his mind, went back and was caught plumb in front.

'I was definitely out - I should have been forward,' he said yesterday. 'I was annoyed with myself. I could have gone on a lot longer. I felt in good nick, as good as I did before the injury, and with another couple of games I will, hopefully, be ready to go. The thumb feels fine.'

He will play against Berkshire in the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy tie at Reading on Wednesday, then in Essex's three-day match against the Australians starting at Chelmsford on Friday.

It will be easier then to measure his progress than it was amid the exploding rockets, blaring music and prancing pink dinosaurs of Saturday's circus.

In the field, Hussain enjoyed some anonymity by borrowing a shirt bearing the name of Andrew McGarry, a 6ft 5in pace bowler, and the disguise clearly worked. As he walked out to open the innings with Darren Robinson, the near-hysterical announcer introduced the pair as 'Darren Robinson and... er Mr McGarry.'

A promising find, this Mr McGarry. Once he had got over the shock of a strident, first-ball appeal for leg-before, his timing was immaculate.