Cricket: Hussain not thinking about scoreline

CHELMSFORD - England cricket captain Nasser Hussain has broken his silence on the Ashes series against Australia, with the surprising claim that he does not care about the result.

With just four days before the first test at Edgbaston, a television advertisement featuring Steve Waugh asking Hussain: "Hey, mate, how do you spell annihilate?" sums up the justifiably pessimistic mood of English supporters.

Five England players - Graham Thorpe, Michael Vaughan, Craig White, Andy Caddick and Ashley Giles - are hampered by injury, while the Australians are at their peak with a fully fit squad.

Hussain declared during Australia's tour match against Essex that the Ashes scoreline was not a concern.

"All I want to do is look at my players at the end of the day and see that they gave it absolutely everything," Hussain said. "Australia are a fine side and if we start worrying about them we'll go around in circles.

"It might sound like a strange thing to say ... but I'm not worried about the result."

The first test starts on Thursday.

Hussain's wish to downplay England's chances is understandable because he wants his side, despite winning four of their last five series and drawing the other, to remain the underdogs.

But there is no doubt such a tough, win-at-all-costs leader has victory on his mind.

The crowd at Lord's swayed and sang "The Ashes are coming home" after a test triumph against Pakistan last month, but Australia's merciless run through the tri-series and tour matches has shocked the English cricketing fraternity.

Waugh, who missed the Essex match to visit EuroDisney in Paris with his wife, Lynette, and two young children, can become the first player to play in seven Ashes series triumphs in what is probably his last tour.

"I'd rather see us win, put it that way," Waugh said yesterday. "But people generally want a good, close Ashes contest.

"I think it's great for the game. I can still handle a good contest if we win five very close Ashes contests."

England yesterday recalled batsman Mark Ramprakash as injury cover for left-hander Thorpe in a 14-man squad named for the first test.

Thorpe is doubtful for the game because of a lingering calf muscle injury.

England squad: Nasser Hussain (captain), Michael Atherton, Marcus Trescothick, Michael Vaughan, Graham Thorpe, Alec Stewart, Ian Ward, Craig White, Mark Ramprakash, Dominic Cork, Ashley Giles, Andy Caddick, Darren Gough and Matthew Hoggard.

The Australian X1 will be named tomorrow. The only doubt is whether left-handed No 3 batsman Justin Langer will lose his place to fellow West Australian Damien Martyn.

* Sachin Tendulkar hit an unbeaten 81 to guide India to a comfortable six-wicket win over the West Indies in their triangular series match in Bulawayo yesterday.

Tendulkar anchored his side as they reached their target of 170, with 6.1 of their 50 overs to spare after they restricted the West Indies to 169 for seven.

Tendulkar, in subdued mood to begin with, made his runs from 110 balls and hit eight fours, most of which came in a rush towards the end.

India have now won the first three of their four round-robin matches while the West Indies have won one and lost won. Zimbabwe have lost three of their four games.

- AGENCIES