Trent Bridge Test, Day 2
Friday, August 9, 2002 Things went pretty much as the forecast predicted – rain in the morning, brightening up, showers in the afternoon – so we were pleased to fit 25 or so overs into the day.

I wasn't particularly pleased with my bowlers though. I can't fault these guys for effort, but the loss of Dominic Cork was a huge blow. I'd read this as a pitch-it-up-and-swing-it wicket, and without him there's only Hoggard left who's a natural swinger. The rest of our attack is much more of a bang-it-in type – Flintoff, Harmison, White – so it's disappointing. Dominic will certainly play no further part in the match with the ball, but he'll have a bat when needed. I'm not sure what he's done, but his knee was very, very sore and he couldn't run on it this morning.

Knees are a common problem in the squad, and we decided on Wednesday night that Darren Gough would need to have another operation. I said at the beginning of the Test that we had a lot of bowlers coming into the game with injuries, and today was one of those days when our inexperience showed.

But Steve Harmison did get his first wickets in Test cricket. He bowled fine, and although the pitch didn't exactly suit him, he was always going to play here as we need to have a look at these guys. He would have preferred a pacier track, but he got a couple late on and he'll be feeling pleased with himself this evening, which is the most important thing for these young lads – to feel they have a part to play for England.

Robert Key's done nicely as well. He said he used to field at slip for Kent, but that he hadn't done so this season yet. He caught well in practice though, so we put him there and he's picked up two from two, both difficult chances. They should give him some confidence when it comes to his batting.

Parthiv Patel looked about 12 years old as he came out to bat! We didn't give him any stick, but you can't get too much sympathy in this game either, as cricket has a funny habit of getting up and knocking you sometimes. But he did look very, very young for international cricket.

Nasser Hussain was talking to Andrew Miller. His thoughts will appear on Wisden.com, other duties permitting, at the end of each day of England's international cricket this summer.

More Nasser Hussain
Having a swing
An exceptional effort

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