The Ashes may have been lost, but England have received a boost with the news that Nasser Hussain is ready to return to competitive cricket.

The England captain is likely to play for Essex in a second XI game against Nottinghamshire on Wednesday. Essex do not have a CricInfo Championship game before the Fourth Test, though they do meet Worcestershire in Division Two of the NUL.

Whether the selectors feel that Hussain has had sufficient preparation in order to pick him for the Fourth Test remains to be seen.

The England captain's hand was broken during the first innings of the First Test at Edgbaston by a ball from Gillespie.

Hussain's role as captain has been widely credited as one of the key ingredients in England's resurgence as a Test force, and his absence was felt keenly in recent weeks.

Meanwhile some of England's other injured players are planning their returns too. Matthew Hoggard and Michael Vaughan are playing league cricket this weekend and hope to return for Yorkshire soon.

Chris Silverwood is hoping to play in Yorkshire's next CricInfo Championship game, against Lancashire, starting on Tuesday.

© CricInfo