Hussain may miss Lanka one-day series

England captain Nasser Hussain looks set to miss the forthcoming three one-day matches against Sri Lanka after suffering a thigh injury.

Hussain injured his right thigh as he tried to stop the ball going to the boundary during Sri Lanka's first innings on the opening day of the third and final Test on Thursday.

England physio Dean Conway said after the second day of the Test on Friday: "My first instincts are that his thigh injury will probably take around 10 days (to clear up)."

The limited overs matches are being played on March 23, 25 and 27.

Hussain went into the Test after having a problem with his left thigh, and Conway said: "I think there is a link with the other injury because he has been subconsciously trying to protect that left groin.

"None of the problems Nasser's got at the moment are what you would class long-term injuries but cricket's so intense at the moment it is difficult to hide people.

"There is no problem regarding the start of our (home) Test series (against Pakistan in May). I think we are looking at 10 days to a couple of weeks for it to heal up."

On the decision to let Hussain bat in his regular number three spot despite the thigh trouble, England coach Duncan Fletcher said: "We spoke to him this morning and he was comfortable and it didn't seem to be a problem.

"But, as always happens, you start off for a quick single and you really are under a lot of pressure. You can't hide away in that situation whereas you can sometimes hide away in the field.

"Then he suddenly he realised it was more painful than he thought it was this morning."

Michael Vaughan, who shared a crucial, unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 84 with Graham Thorpe in the test on Friday, is to be drafted into the one-day squad.

Mail Cricket Editor