Hussain happy with early batting form

Nasser Hussain was delighted to have started another Ashes tour with a hundred, and believes the squad are acclimatising well after early problems. The England captain scored 117 in today's warm-up match against Western Australia at the WACA.

"You have to keep improving," added Hussain. "Whatever we did last week was very early days on the tour and people have to find their feet and get used to conditions, and the last couple of days we've been very good.

"The last time I was here I started off with a hundred and it's nice to start off that way again with another one."

"I had nine months when I couldn't buy a run and everyone has that in their career. As captain I suppose it's all part of understanding captaincy and learning how to prioritise, but I've also worked on a few things.

"Everyone has a bad patch, but luckily that was a long time ago and it's going well at the moment. You probably learn from times like that and make sure you cash in when you do get on a good run.

"It's an excellent cricket wicket and once you get in it's a quick-scoring ground. Had this been a Test match I'd have been very disappointed to be bowled out, but with it being a three-day game it gave us another bowl this evening."

Hussain also drew encouragement from Andrew Flintoff's imminent return to the squad after travelling to the Academy in Adelaide to speed up his rehabilitation following a double hernia operation.

"It's very good news, the injury is progressing well, said Hussain. "He's gone off and got up early and worked his socks off and I hear he's bowling in the nets at about 80%.

"The coach has spoken to him and he wants to make himself available for the next game in Brisbane and that's obviously very good news for the team, but we'll have to wait and see and see how he plays before we can make any big predictions."

Fast bowler Matthew Nicholson reacted modestly after finishing with six for 79 as England were bowled out for 327.

"I wouldn't say I was the best bowler out there today," Nicholson said. "It was a pretty good team effort. I thought Jo Angel was the pick of the bowlers, but he walked away with two wickets.

"It's what you dream of as a kid - to play against England - so you try to lift a notch. I am lucky enough that things have gone my way two tours in a row."