da prosport bet： LONDON – England captain Nasser Hussain insists his side is not fearfulof taking on world champion Australia later this year despite itsappalling record in recent Ashes contests.
Julian Guyer09-Sep-2002LONDON – England captain Nasser Hussain insists his side is not fearfulof taking on world champion Australia later this year despite itsappalling record in recent Ashes contests.”This is the most positive England side I’ve captained,” said Hussaintoday after a last day washout ensured a drawn fourth Test against Indiaat The Oval and a series squared at one apiece.England has not beaten Australia since 1986-87 and tomorrow willannounce the touring party which it hopes will end that losing sequence.”Australia are the world champions. They are the best side in the world.They hammered South Africa and they’ve hammered everyone else,” Hussainadmitted.”But England are a good side so why not go there [Australia] withconfidence?”However, throughout its home series against both Sri Lanka and India,England was plagued by injuries to its fast bowlers.Spearhead Darren Gough did not play in any of the seven Tests and fellowquicks Andrew Caddick, Alex Tudor, Stephen Harmison and Simon Jones, aswell as all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, were all sidelined at various timesthrough injury.”We’ve got to get our bowling attack fit,” said Hussain. “And it’s notjust a case of getting them fit. Gough, for example, has hardly playedany cricket.”His comments were endorsed by India skipper Sourav Ganguly, whose sidebeat Australia back on home soil 18 months ago. “England do have achance but its fast bowlers have to be fit for five Tests.”Darren Gough’s fitness is very important,” Ganguly added.Hussain said he was due to have one last meeting with coach DuncanFletcher and chairman of selectors David Graveney about the compositionof the party.”I don’t know how many we will take. We’ve just got a list of names atthe moment.”It’s not like a tour of the West Indies where you take 16 and that’sit. Our Academy [primarily designed to bring on future Test players]will be in Australia and it’s up to the management how they want toutilise that.”Earlier today, Graveney said England’s fitness worries could lead to anunusual team announcement at Lord’s.”Probably for the first time, the team will be announced subject tofitness,” Graveney explained.”Andy Flintoff has had a [groin] operation – he’ll be in the team – butsomebody like Simon Jones may or may not be in the team.”Another major concern for England is the mental well-being of keymiddle-order batsman Graham Thorpe.After England’s 170 run first Test win at Lord’s in July, Surreyleft-hander Thorpe took an indefinite absence from all cricket.That was due to problems in his private life caused by the break-up ofhis marriage and arguments over access arrangements to his two youngchildren.But Thorpe recently said he was ready to face the Australians and hasput his case for inclusion to the England management.”Graham has had a very, very difficult time. I was impressed with theway he talked, but again, it’s for all four of us [Hussain, Fletcher,Graveney and Thorpe] to decide,” Graveney explained.But before England goes to Australia in October, Hussain’s men fly outon Thursday to Sri Lanka for the ICC Champions Trophy one-daytournament.And the England skipper pleaded with his country’s administrators todraw up a schedule that gave his side decent rest periods in between itsinternational engagements.”Some sides seem to have three months off: we’ve got two days. It’ssomething I would urge the ECB [England and Wales Cricket Board] to lookat.”