Hussain Steps Down As One-Day Skipper

Although he insists he wishes to stay in charge of the Test team, Hussain's decision follows a poor return with the bat in limited-overs cricket.

He made just 24 in three World Cup innings, the last of which was against Australia on Sunday when England relinquished the grip they had on the contest and lost by two wickets in the final over.

Ultimately, a 14th consecutive one-day international defeat by Australia cost Hussain's team a place in the Super Six stage of the tournament and Zimbabwe claimed third spot in Pool A following their abandoned fixture with Pakistan in Bulawayo.

Hussain, who made his announcement just two hours after England's fate had been sealed, said: "I have always spoken from the heart and I believe the time has come for me to step down as England one-day captain.

"I would like to carry on as England Test captain but I wish to take myself off the selection panel for a couple of months."

He will, in fact, take two months off from all cricket after a gruelling winter in which he flew to Australia a fortnight after returning from the ICC Trophy in Sri Lanka; England's World Cup preparation began four days after that Ashes tour.

The England and Wales Cricket Board will now have to find a successor with Yorkshire's Michael Vaughan and Marcus Trescothick, of Somerset, the most likely candidates.

Hussain added that in his opinion, he was leaving a strong limited-overs unit that he no longer justified being part of.

"I firmly believe that England are a better side with me as captain, my team have always responded to me but I also believe I don't warrant a place in the side any more and I am an honourable man," he said.

"My gut feeling with this one-day side is that a young core of people should take this side on into the future."