England captain Nasser Hussain has been ruled out of the remaining Test series against Pakistan and possibly the NatWest Series after breaking his thumb at Lord's this morning.

Hussain was taken to hospital after his hand was struck by deliveries from Waqar Younis and then Shoaib Akhtar. He required on-the-field treatment from physio Dean Conway and was taken to hospital for a precautionary X-ray during the luncheon interval where a bone in his right thumb was found to be fractured.

He will take no further part in the current Test at Lord's and will sit out the Second Test at Old Trafford, freeing him up to attend the birth of his first baby. It remains unclear whether he will play any part in the NatWest Series involving Australia and Pakistan.

Hussain said: "I was enjoying the occasion and to have four to five weeks off is hugely disappointing - at least it happened at the end of the innings rather than the beginning," said Hussain.

"The ball hit me full on the thumb and there is nowhere for it to go, especially when you are hit by someone like Shoaib Akhtar.

"I'm seeing a specialist in the week but our physio doesn't seem to think I will need an operation so it's really just about rest and batting again once you're not in pain."

Alec Stewart takes over as captain at Lord's and selectors will announce their choice of stand-in captain for the Old Trafford Test match nearer the time.

Hussain broke his hand in 1999 while fielding in the First Test Match as England captain against New Zealand at Lord's. He missed the next Test at Old Trafford, with Mark Butcher taking over as captain.

Hussain later brushed aside any suggestion that he is especially susceptible to breaks or that he had been let down by the amount of protection in his gloves.

"If Shoaib Akhtar hits you at 90mph there is nothing you can do," he reasoned.

"You play for ten to 12 years and you get three or four breaks - that is the way it goes.

"It is very disappointing. I keep looking at what I am putting on my gloves, but let's put this in perspective.

"Yes, it will take four or five weeks now. But when you bat up the order and you get seriously good bowlers trying to break your fingers that is part of the game.

"I have been in good form and I was looking forward to keeping batting for long periods of time.

"It is now going to be a very difficult few weeks, but I will just have to try to keep myself in that batting frame of mind."

Hussain's wife Karen is due to give birth on June 1 so he will be able to attend the birth without worrying about any conflict with his England duties.

"The baby's due in about a week's time," said Hussain. "I think my wife will be the only pleased person in the stands at the moment."

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