Wright prepared to delay decision on playing Harbhajan

The India coach, John Wright, admits Harbhajan Singh should have played the first Test against England at Lord's. But he will wait until later this week to decide whether to use the spinner at Trent Bridge, where the second match of the series begins on Thursday.

The Lord's pitch offered unexpected turn and an unprepared touring side slipped to a 170-run defeat, with sole India spinner Anil Kumble taking six wickets in 66 overs.

"We could have probably done with [Harbhajan] but every situation is different," Wright said. "We'll have to look at the conditions and the wicket nearer to the game but he is certainly in contention for the match. Looking back at Lord's we didn't play up to our ability and potential. To get a result we've got to play better cricket."

Bad weather cut the tourists' only match between Tests down to two days at Worcester, but Wright is not worried by the lack of practice. "We've played a lot of cricket, we've been 1-0 down before and we know what's required to come back," he said.

India's bowlers will encounter Robert Key for the first time as the Kent opener makes his Test debut, and Wright, who spent four years as coach at Canterbury, can claim some of the credit. "He was always one of the players I felt had the ability to make it at this level," the former New Zealand batsman said. "Personally I'm delighted for him – he's worked hard to get here."

Harbhajan expects to announce later this week that he will play county cricket next season. The off-spinner has had talks with Sussex, and Lancashire have expressed an interest.

The Pakistan Cricket Board are to send a member of their medical panel to Britain to monitor the fitness of their fast bowler, Shoaib Akhtar.

Dr Tauseef Razzaq will travel to London where the "Rawalpindi Express" is in rehabilitation following a leg injury. Akhtar has been granted permission by the PCB to miss the forthcoming one-day tournament in Morocco to ensure he is in peak form for the World Cup next year in South Africa.

"We just want to be sure he is OK and that he has recovered from his leg problem," the PCB chairman, Lt General Tauqir Zia, said.

* The Norwich Union League Second Division match between Sussex and Gloucestershire was abandoned yesterday without a result due to rain. The sides were awarded two points each after Sussex made eight without loss.