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 Friday, 4 October, 2002, 09:02 GMT 10:02 UK
Hussain rebuts indoor critics
james Foster and Simon Jones with the trophy
Foster and Jones play for The Brits in Cardiff
Nasser Hussain has described as "silly" claims that five England players should not be playing two indoor all-star matches a fortnight before they begin an Ashes tour.

The England captain will lead a British side against a Rest of the World XI at Cardiff's Millenium Stadium on Friday.


I'm just as likely to pull a muscle in the gym
Nasser Hussain
Also featured in the home team are batsmen Rob Key, John Crawley, wicket-keeper James Foster and Glamorgan fast bowler Simon Jones.

"You can't wrap yourself up in cotton wool just because you've got the Ashes in a month's time," Hussain told BBC Radio Five Live.

"If I wasn't here I'd be in the gym or running, trying to get fit and I'm just as likely to pull a muscle doing that."

Hussain has a history of breaking fingers while batting against pace.

And Jones has only just returned to fitness after straining his side during his Test debut against India at Lord's.

England begin the first of five Tests against Australia in Brisbane on 17 November.

And they also play a triangular one-day series in Australia before heading to South Africa for the World Cup.

"It's probably better to keep cricketing fitness, rather than having two months off before five intense months," Hussain argued.

"I would hope that every individual on the Ashes tour is doing some fitness work and some cricket work to keep themselves grooved."

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England captain Nasser Hussain
"You can't wrap yourself in cotton wool"
All the news ahead of the 2002/03 Ashes tour

Tour in review

Test series

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