Clinton benefits from Hussain's absence as Essex and Lancashire clash in CricInfo Championship

Nasser Hussain will not return for Essex who start a new CricInfo Championship match against Lancashire at Old Trafford.

The England captain has not played since the First Test against Pakistan at Lord's, where his finger was broken by a Shoaib Akhtar delivery. He will now stay with the England team for Thursday's one-day game at The Oval and will aim to return to Essex's team in the day-night game against Lancashire on Saturday.

The continuing absence of Hussain does mean a prolonged run in the side for Richard Clinton however. Clinton has started well since he was signed from Kent last week and Essex captain, Ronnie Irani, expressed the club's delight at the 19-year-old's form.

"We're over the moon with what Richard Clinton has shown," Irani said. "For a new signing he did brilliantly to score 30 and a 50 in his first game and then another 50 in the one-day game."

Irani admitted that the rain had frustrated Essex with victory within their grasp in their last match against Surrey.

"We were bitterly disappointed to have been beaten by the rain against Surrey," Irani continued. "It'll be nice to go up to Lancashire playing the way we are but it would have been better if were going there on the back of beating the champions.

"Still, we're in good form and I'm pleased that I've been in good nick. I hope that I get better," Irani, who scored 119 in the Essex first innings, having taken 5-58 when Surrey batted, said.

For Lancashire Andy Flintoff hands the captaincy back to John Crawley after taking the reigns for the encounter with Durham UCCE last week.

Flintoff hit a century in that game and will be hoping to bring his good form into the CricInfo Championship if he is to attract the attention of the national selectors prior to the Ashes series.

Mike Atherton, Neil Fairbrother and Warren Hegg also return for Lancashire.