Don't look for English excuses, Hussain tells bowlers

Nasser Hussain warned his bowlers they could no longer hide behind favourable English conditions after the drawn first test against Sri Lanka on Monday.

Hussain, who watched his seam attack torn apart over the first two days as the Sri Lankans amassed 555 for eight declared, said: "We did not show the discipline needed, unlike their bowlers.

"Against these batsmen, you have to put six balls in the right area all the time."

He conceded he would have liked a more "traditional English wicket" favouring his seam and swing bowlers for the start of the three-match test series but added: "If we are going to progress we can't hide behind a moving ball.

"It's a matter of mental discipline. Our bowlers have done it before for me, they did it in India but for one innings they did not get it right.

"But let's remember it was a batting wicket, most attacks would have suffered."

England were dismissed for 275 in their first innings at Lord's but made 529 for five declared in their second to save the game.

Hussain denied England had been wrong to leave out left-arm spinner Ashley Giles in favour of an all-seam attack.

"If I picked the side again I still wouldn't pick him," he said. "The ball didn't turn off the straight. I don't want a spinner just for the sake of it."

But he said he was always looking to bring more variety to the attack, whether through a spinner, a left-armer or "raw pace", adding: "We have to work out how we will get 20 wickets on flat tracks."

Mail Cricket Editor