Nasser Hussain is to play his first competitive game since returning home from England's triumphant Test series victory in Sri Lanka.

Muttiah Muralitharan: Back at Old Trafford Photo © AFP

Hussain is named in the Essex squad to play Northants tomorrow in the first division of the CricInfo Championship. He is just one of a number of centrally contracted players to return to the county game as the competition enters full swing.

Graham Thorpe is included in the Surrey squad for tomorrow's clash with title contenders Lancashire at Old Trafford. Thorpe will further enforce an already strong batting line up, but Lancashire can at least take some solace in the fact that Alec Stewart is to miss the game. Martin Bicknell has a shoulder niggle, but is expected to play.

Thorpe will face England team mate Mike Atherton, who is returning to the Lancashire team for the first time this season, while the off-spin of Muralitharan will boost the bowling attack.

Muralitharan was positive about Lancashire's chances of success this year: "I think Lancashire can do it this time," he said. "I'm glad to be back and I will give 100%. It could be that county batsmen have more idea of how to play me now but I think I am a better bowler than I was two years ago."

Yorkshire have named both Michael Vaughan and Matthew Hoggard of the centrally contracted players in their squad to take on Kent. Darren Gough and Craig White enjoy some further rest prior to the rigours of a long international summer.

Similarly for Somerset, Marcus Trescothick is expected to play while Andy Caddick is rested for their game with Glamorgan at Cardiff

Dominic Cork also returns to captain Derbyshire in their encounter with Middlesex, but Ashley Giles is to sit out the first few weeks of the season in order to allow a troublesome tendon injury to heal.

© CricInfo