ECB annouces rest periods for contracted players

The England team management today announced the availability of England contracted players to their counties for the rest of the domestic cricket season.

Available for all remaining domestic fixtures: Darren Gough, Michael Vaughan, Matthew Hoggard (all Yorkshire), Alec Stewart (Surrey) and Michael Atherton (Lancashire.) Graham Thorpe (Surrey) and Dominic Cork (Derbyshire) will also be available subject to fitness.

The England team management has also requested that counties rest the following players in order to give them an extended break before this winter's tours.

Craig White: available for Yorkshire's NUL match against Kent tomorrow but to be rested thereafter.

Andrew Caddick and Marcus Trescothick: available to Somerset for their NUL fixture at Northampton this Thursday and the C and G Trophy Final this Saturday, but to be rested thereafter.

Nasser Hussain: to be rested by Essex from all domestic cricket until the end of the season.