Hussain ruled out of Lord's Test with thumb injury

The England captain Nasser Hussain will miss the 2nd Test Match against West Indies at Lord's starting on Thursday after an X-ray revealed he had cracked his left thumb playing for Essex yesterday.

England physiotherapist, Dean Conway, said: "Nasser will see a specialist over the next 48 hours to assess the full extent of the injury. An X-Ray revealed a cracked left thumb and the current prognosis is that he may need between three to four weeks rest."

Alec Stewart will take over as captain for the 2nd Test Match and Michael Vaughan of Yorkshire has been called into the squad as a replacement batsman.

A decision on a replacement for Hussain in the One-Day Squad for the NatWest Series will be made by the selectors once they have received the specialist's report.

Hussain sustained the injury stopping a drive from Chris Read while fielding for Essex against Nottinghamshire in the Norwich Union NCL Division Two fixture at Trent Bridge yesterday.