LONDON (Reuters)
England batsman Graham Thorpe says the broken bone in his right hand is healing but he will wait before deciding whether he can play in the fourth Ashes Test against Australia later this month. Thorpe missed the third Test defeat at Trent Bridge which gave Australia an unassailable 3-0 lead in the best-of-five Ashes series.

"My hand injury is healing but at the moment there is still a bit of swelling where the ball struck me, and it feels tight in a glove," Thorpe wrote in his diary for the cricket4.com website.

"I have had the splint off for a week and on Monday I started hitting tennis balls without suffering any reaction."

Thorpe broke a bone in his right hand while batting in the second Test having already missed six weeks with a calf injury. He is hoping to be fit for the fourth Test at Headingley which starts on August 16.

"The next stage is to hit a few balls in the nets at The Oval and see what reaction there is from the hand. I will not be fit to play for Surrey this week but it's too early to say whether I'll be available for the Headingley Test match.

"I will have a better idea at the end of the week when I hope to make a decision. To play at Headingley I feel I need to get a game in for Surrey in either the seconds or the National League, just so I can see how the hand reacts in a match situation.

"I have to judge the situation day by day, but when you are coming back from an injury it's a fact that you need match practice just so you know in your own mind that you will not have any problems in the Test."

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