NEW England cricket chief David Morgan has given his full backing to Test skipper Nasser Hussain.

And the Newport-based England and Wales Cricket Board chairman-in-waiting (he takes over officially from Lord MacLaurin on December 1) believes Hussain's side can bounce back from their 1-0 Ashes deficit.

Morgan, who flies out to Australia on Tuesday to see the Second and Third Tests in Adelaide and Perth respectively, says he's 100% behind Hussain.

"It was hugely disappointing to lose in Brisbane of course, but we have come back from First Test defeats in recent times to win series," said Morgan.

"I think it's a very big task to win this one against Australia, but I have spoken to Duncan Fletcher (England coach) and though disappointed, the party are not despondent.

"The team did ever so well on the second day (in Brisbane) but even so the first-innings lead was very substantial and of course Australia have a great attack while we were without Darren Gough and Simon Jones.

"I think the Simon Jones accident probably had a very demoralising affect on the other ten members of the team.

"When I get to Australia I'll be wishing them well and reminding them of past triumphs after early disasters.

"The current Australian team is an awesome one, but I'd like to think that we could win a Test match or two."

Asked about Hussain's position and his admission he had erred in putting Australia in to bat at The Gabba, Morgan added: "I think Nasser's doing a fine job and I back him 100%.

"I think hindsight is a wonderful thing. If we'd batted (in Brisbane) and they'd exploited the conditions and we'd lost four wickets by lunch, that would have been wrong as well.

"I think Nasser has said all the right and appropriate things about his decision.

"He thought he was doing the right thing and has said quite unequivocally with hindsight that it wasn't the right thing to have done."

Asked about further criticism that Hussain wasn't leading his embattled troops against a strong Australia A side in Tasmania tomorrow but was joining his wife in Perth for the birth of their second child, Morgan said: "I think that's entirely reasonable."

Tredegar-born Morgan has spoken to Glamorgan fast bowler Simon Jones' father Jeff about his son's knee injury, and said: "It was a terrible accident and he's clearly devastated.

"One can only hope that he has early surgery whether in Australia or back home in Wales.

"He's highly thought of and would be a candidate for a central England contract at some time in the future, but maybe the earliest time would be next September.

"That doesn't mean to say he won't play for England in the latter part of next summer."