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Time was running out for Nasser Hussain yesterday. The chances of England's captain recovering from a broken finger to lead his side into the third Test against New Zealand at Old Trafford were rated by the team's physiotherapist as ``no better than 50-50''.

England captain Nasser Hussain in the nets at Old Trafford

Mark Butcher stands by to take on the job when a final decision is made today. The Surrey batsman would be the 14th officially appointed England captain in the past 20 years.

England's selectors and management, under heavy criticism already for lack of imagination in returning to the old guard after the nine-wicket defeat in the second Test at Lord's, insisted that Hussain could not be ruled out.

They could hardly have been serious. Hussain's participation in yesterday afternoon's practice came close to charade. His net took the form of 10 minutes of desultory throw-downs from Wayne Morton, the physiotherapist.

At that time, England's players occupied themselves with serious batting and bowling - Graeme Hick, for example, stroking the spinners around in the drizzle with a Slazenger half-width bat.

In fielding practice, Hussain did not touch a ball. Instead he watched his team-mates as he forlornly patrolled the various groups on the Old Trafford outfield like a film extra unsure which scene he was supposed to be in.

Morton said afterwards that Hussain's test had been ``encouraging'' and added: ``It didn't hurt him too much and he was pleased with it, but obviously that's a long way from being able to bat in the middle.

``My main concern is that he doesn't have any more long-term problems, which is always a risk coming back from any fracture.''

For Hussain to play would represent a major risk. The healing finger on his right hand could be damaged again early in the match - either by batting or fielding - and The Management would surely be bounced out of the door if England had to bat with 10 men for a second consecutive Test. Most likely, Hussain will rest the finger, returning for the final Test at the Oval in two weeks time.

Michael Atherton was back yesterday enjoying the England scene after withdrawing six times through injury in a year, though he was convinced his back problem had been solved with injections.

It was not the chronic degeneration in his spine that had bothered him, but a slightly inflamed lower disc. ``That's the disc that's been injected, and apart from that I don't have any other problems,'' he said.

Peter Marron, the head groundsman, yesterday indicated the pitch would encourage turn and offer more bounce than the dead strip in last year's Test against South Africa.