Since Hussain lost the contest with Alec Stewart for the England captaincy he has led Essex on a startlingly successful one-day campaign. Guiding a high-spirited winning team and leading a losing one is as different as a pork pie to a jam sandwich, with Essex entering today's match as the only side without a championship win.

There was an era in the Sixties when Essex were consistently mediocre. Trevor Bailey, the captain and one of the better all-rounders of his time, could not hold together a team plying a wandering trade at places such as Leyton, Westcliff, Romford, Brentwood, the county's original ground, and Clacton, where play would be halted occasionally while smoke from passing steam-trains cleared.

Essex have kept in touch with the past by maintaining festival cricket at Colchester, Southend and Ilford, and the club, conversely, have become accustomed to winning matches.

Hussain has underlined his enjoyment as Essex's stand-in captain for the injured Paul Prichard and the need for his own ``total focus'' after England matches. ``As captain you can't let the boys down,'' he said. ``There can be no tiredness after Test matches or anything like that.''

He added: ``We're definitely not the worst side in the championship, and I'll be reminding the players that their pride and personal performances are at stake against the top side.''

Essex have not finished bottom since 1950, when Tom Pearce and Doug Insole were joint captains, and it seems inconceivable they will stay there this season.

Hussain has felt no ill-effect from his collision with Richard Blakey during Essex's Benson and Hedges semi-final win over Yorkshire on Tuesday, though Ashley Cowan, a key bowler, is doubtful for today's match with a sore shoulder.

Darren Lehmann and Craig White, two of Yorkshire's most important players, have been ruled out of the game with Hampshire at Headingley with back trouble. Wasim Akram returns from injury to captain Lancashire at Old Trafford.