Nasser Hussain paid tribute to Graham Thorpe after an unbeaten 81 that put England in control of the second Test. After half-centuries from Hussain and Mark Butcher, Thorpe led England into a 92-run first innings lead over West Indies on day three in Trinidad.
"Graham's 81 out there was brilliant," said Hussain, who hit 58 in nearly six hours at the crease.
"To continue his fluency right the way through and to cash in right at the end was very important to the team."
On a pitch offering increasingly variable bounce, Hussain added: "We don't want to be chasing too much in that last innings."
 |  Graham has the mental strength to come in and produce the goods |
Hussain said he believed Thorpe would be able to continue on day four despite being hit on the forearm by pace bowler Tino Best. "Beamers always look nasty, but Tino did the right thing and apologised straightaway, and there's absolutely no bad feeling at all between the teams," insisted Hussain.
If he has no ill effects from the blow, England hope Thorpe will marshal the tail further and score his second century since his return to international cricket in August.
With a century against South Africa at The Oval, the 34-year-old returned from a year sorting out domestic problems in the aftermath of his divorce.
"When he came back in after his long absence, to have the mental strength to do what he did at The Oval and here is superb," added Hussain.
"You can't teach that. You either have it or you don't, and Graham has the mental strength to come in and produce the goods."
MMIX
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