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CRICKET ROADSHOWS

Week 8 Review - 30 Jun, Chelmsford Hussain fit for Test examination

England captain Nasser Hussain gave himself the thumbs up for the 1st Ashes Test on Saturday morning's Channel 4 Cricket Roadshow.

Hussain, who was speaking to Sybil Ruscoe at Chelmsford before the Essex v Australia match, was in bullish mood after surviving a testing spell from Glenn McGrath and a rapid opening salvo from Jason Gillespie the previous evening.

"The thumb's fine, it's just the six weeks away from the game that's been a problem," said Hussain.

"It's a pretty good wicket [at Chelmsford] to bowl on with the new ball, but it was just nice to see off Gillespie and McGrath for the first time this summer."

Asked whether he was concerned facing such pace in his first proper game back from injury Hussain was confidence personified.

"I'm not worried about things like that. They've got some good bowlers and their first change bowler Brett Lee's pretty quick as well. They keep coming and when the ball goes soft they throw it to Shane Warne, but we know all about their strengths. It was just good to get some practice in."

England have lost all seven matches during Hussain's enforced absence – the 2nd Test against Pakistan and all six NatWest Series games – and his return to the team will be a massive boost, especially with injury concerns over Graham Thorpe and Michael Vaughan.

Another England batsman shaping up to face the Aussies at Edgbaston next week is Alec Stewart, and he spoke frankly on the Roadshow about the ongoing publicity surrounding allegations he took money from an Indian bookmaker for team and pitch information.

The England wicketkeeper confirmed he had met with Sir Paul Condon's ACU team during the week but refused to elaborate on what he had said. He did, however, say he hoped the whole matter would be cleared up as soon as possible.

"Everyone's entitled to their opinions but I've made my statements and that's that. I can't do anything about what people think or their opinions, but I've done all I've been asked to do."

Looking further ahead to the Ashes, Stewart said it was the greatest challenge for any English player.

"It's a huge tour for anyone. Whether you're playing for England against Pakistan or India or whatever, it's a huge tour, but when you play against Australia in the Ashes it's that little bit more important, it has extra edge to it.

"You grow up as a youngster wanting to play cricket for England, but the be-all and end-all is to play against the old enemy – Australia."

Asked what his personal aim for the series was, he replied: "The bottom line is to try and win the Ashes back. I think I've been on the receiving end of four or five losses and I don't think I'll play against them any more after this one, so it would be a nice way to have finished what's been a good career but a hard career in terms of playing against the Aussies."

But when pushed if that meant he planned to retire from the international stage at the end of the Ashes he remained non-committal.

"I can't answer that just yet. We'll see. It all depends on how I'm playing at the end of the summer and my fitness as well."

Stewart got support from former Australia captain Allan Border, who also spent two years plying his trade for Essex.

"It's a very tough time and I do feel very sorry for him. He's totally denied the allegations but obviously it's not helping his cricket given the heavy workload he's got and that the Ashes are about to start.

"He probably needs a bit of a break somewhere along the line but he's one of those guys that's got to really stand up during the Ashes series and England need Alec to be at his best," said Border.

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