Flintoff's rapid recovery delights centurion Hussain

Nasser Hussain provided the inspiration on the pitch while news away from the WACA also lifted England's spirits yesterday in the build-up to the first Ashes Test.

Hussain marked the opening first-class match of the tour by taking a century off a strong Western Australia attack to put the tourists in control going into the final day. His display masked the disappointment of watching the lower order capitulate to the fast bowler Matt Nicholson.

But it was events away from the middle which will have most pleased England in the countdown to the opening Test in Brisbane on 7 November, with Andrew Flintoff making unexpectedly quick progress after a hernia operation.

Flintoff's intensive treatment in Adelaide has proved so successful that he will rejoin the tour party in Brisbane later this week and may play in England's final warm-up match, against Queensland which starts on Saturday. That game could also mark the return of Michael Vaughan, who has made good progress from a knee operation.

"It's very good news, the injury [to Flintoff] is progressing well," Hussain said. "He's worked his socks off and I hear he's bowling in the nets at about 80 per cent. The coach has spoken to Freddie [Flintoff] and he wants to make himself available for the next game in Brisbane and that's very good news for the team.

"A double hernia operation is a major operation and that is a heap of progress in a week, but we've just got to keep an eye on him."

Vaughan will also be monitored closely while Darren Gough, still recovering from a series of knee operations which have kept him out for the best part of a year, has made enough progress to possibly be used as a fielder on the final day of the current match.