Hussain to have further examination on wrist

Nasser Hussain will sit out the three-day match against a PCB XI in Lahore this week while doctors decide whether his back and wrist injuries are serious enough to affect the rest of his Pakistan tour.

The England captain was taken to hospital during the final days play of the drawn first Test after being hit on the right wrist by Wasim Akram and although X-rays showed no fracture, he now requires a further examination to assess the damage.

The wrist injury comes on top of the back condition that made Hussain doubtful to start the Lahore Test and continues to require treatment.

"My back is still sore and I've had a sore week with it and I might be having a jab in the back, but luckily it is the same doctor and he said the wrist injury would take my mind off the back for a while," Hussain explained.

"I have bruising around the wrist - I couldn't feel my fingers for half an hour after it, but hopefully it should be alright and there shouldn't be much of a problem."

Hussain has until November 29 to recover for the second Test in Faisalabad but has been warned that wrist injuries are slow to heal. Ten years ago, he broke a wrist playing tennis while on tour in the West Indies and missed most of the following season.

"I don't want to make out how hard I am or anything like that, but that's the first time I've ever retired hurt," revealed Hussain.

"I've been hit at Headingley and various other places and I don't like walking off, but when you can't feel your fingers and can't get your hand back in the glove then you can't be certain."

Physiotherapist Dean Conway said: "We'll need to continue to assess the situation, but we're optimistic Nasser will be fit for the next Test."

He added that Dominic Cork and Michael Vaughan continued to cause concern with the back and calf injuries that ruled them out of contention for the first Test.

Craig White however showed few signs of the hamstring injury that had made him doubtful for the Lahore Test. The Yorkshire all-rounder made 93 and took four for 54 to put in his best performance so far for England.

His progress was encouraging, his skipper commented.

"He's coming on a treat," admitted Hussain.

"He bowls quick, he reverse swings it, he's got a good slower ball which grips on these wickets and he wants to bowl.

"His batting was good in this match, the way he went about it positively and he's a good fielder, but Craig knows he has to improve - he's got to build up his body, he's got to be stronger and bowl a bit longer, but they are all things we can work on."