A cry for help from a man of passion at the end of his tether

Nobody will have lived the last few weeks of the England cricket team more than Nasser Hussain. As captain of a country with a huge decision to make he will not have shirked one ounce of responsibility.

Hussain is not perfect, indeed his shortcomings can easily be seen by his passionate and emotional reactions to decisions both on and off the cricket field. There is one thing he could never be accused of, though, and that is not caring.

If Hussain chooses to do something, he attempts to do it properly and to the best of his ability. The frustration he shows with his players is because he expects the same commitment, discipline and loyalty from them.

Yesterday's announcement that he may resignat the end of the World Cup has come because he does not feel he is getting the support of those in authority with whom he is supposed to be working.

Hussain will have viewed the statement of regret made on his behalf by David Morgan and Tim Lamb, the chairman and chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board, for the manner in which he allegedly behaved at the infamous meeting on 7 February with Malcolm Speed, the chief executive of the International Cricket Council, as a betrayal of the united front they were meant to have been presenting to the world during this traumatic period. Especially when he does not believe that any apology is justified.

The England captain would be aware that this is the third time in a fortnight that the ECB have failed to support either him or his side. In a situation like this it is understandable that Hussain should question his desire to work for people who appear to flit between his side and the other.

It was inevitable that somebody was going to cop the full force of Hussain's fury. When the England captain is upset or frustrated, someone, somewhere normally does. Like a dormant volcano, things bubble under the surface until bang, there is a huge explosion. It is usually one of the England players after a mis-field or a bad ball who feels the brunt of it, but the lack of cricket has saved them from a rollicking.

However, it appears not to have saved Speed on 7 February. The chief executive of the ICC seems – as he has said – to have been the wrong man in the wrong place, giving Hussain the answers he did not want to hear.

Yesterday, on the eve of his side's opening World Cup match against Holland, it was the turn of those at both the ICC and ECB to be told their fortune.

It is debatable whether England have had a more passionate and emotional captain than Hussain. The man many feel to be England's best leader of men since Mike Brearley undoubtedly wears his heart on his sleeve. With this comes the odd regrettable reaction on a cricket field and comment to the media. But that is the nature of the beast. Hussain gets so involved in situations and cares so deeply about what is taking place that there are times when he cannot help himself. And the good things he brings to the England cricket team still far outweigh the bad.

Hussain is a fighter. When pushed in a corner he does not cower or shy away. If something needs confronting he will meet it head-on. This can be seen in his cricket, and is unfortunately a characteristic that not enough of his side have.

With a bat in his hand he protects his wicket as though it is his life, and after he is out the dressing room is not the place to be. During the Ashes tour of Australia this winter we saw a set of crutches and a bag in the England changing area at Perth feel the force of his frustration. And there would be few dressing rooms around England without the odd dent in them as a result of a poor umpiring decision – or a bad shot.

There is one incident that stands out for me and still raises a chuckle. It was during one of England's two Test matches in Trinidad on the 1998 tour of the West Indies. Hussain was angry after getting out in the first innings to the seventh ball of an over after the umpire miscounted. This he just about got over, but in the second innings he was out lbw to the off-spin of Carl Hooper. The ball pitched on a good length, never left the ground and hit him plum in front foot. There was nothing he could do.

On reaching the dressing room Hussain could control his anger no more, and punched the locker. His fist went through the door, which then gripped his hand around the wrist and made extrication a delicate operation. By that time, even he could see the funny side of it.

It could be seen in his eyes that he meant what he said at yesterday's press conference, but he is the sort of man who does not bear grudges and carries on as though nothing has happened once he has blown. In a week's time and after a couple of wins he could well feel a lot more positive about his lot than he did yesterday morning.

Evidence came an hour after his outburst as England practised. Gone was the angry man on the verge of tears. Hussain looked happy and relaxed, as though a weight had been taken off his shoulders. In the nets he was working with Andrew Flintoff and Ronnie Irani, giving them advice on shot selection for the wicket they will be playing on against Holland today in East London.

Yesterday's eruption highlights the pressure the captain of England is under. His side have had a miserable winter and it is difficult to see it getting too much better in the next fortnight. In many ways it was a cry for help.

Only the other day Hussain was saying that he had far from enjoyed Australia but he was finding South Africa harder, because in Australia it was cricket that led to the disappointments. With the cricket starting today at least better times do lie ahead.

'I just let them know they had let us down' In their own words

I have absolutely nothing to apologise for. At no stage did I swear or be rude. I just let them know how they had let us down, how they should have seen it coming six months ago. Nasser Hussain, on hearing that the England and Wales Cricket Board had "regretted" his behaviour in an alleged confrontation with the International Cricket Council's chief executive, Malcolm Speed.

As far as I am concerned it was a case of me going in the wrong place at the wrong time – if I had gone in an hour later or earlier it would have been different. Speed.

Passions were running high and Nasser was only reflecting the mood of his team. Nasser Hussain as the captain of England has the total support of the ECB. Tim Lamb, chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board.

I have seen a group of players whose World Cup dream had been shattered by politics which should have been seen six months ago by people at the ICC. The authorities have fudged the issue. Hussain.

It's a decision that gives the committee no pleasure. Speed, announcing the unanimous rejection of England's appeal to have the Zimbabwe match moved.

We have done everything in our power to persuade the ICC of the merits of our case. The issue has gone on long enough and it's time to move on in the interests of the World Cup. Lamb.

We are delighted. This puts the matter to rest and we can now focus on the tournament. Peter Chingoka, chairman of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union.

I can understand the England players' feelings because I have been through it too. I had to look at what the security professionals brought forward. Michael Holding, member of the ICC technical committee who heard England's appeal.

The ECB does not agree with the decision of the technical committee and we have been advised by our lawyers that the decision is legally incorrect. Lamb.

I don't expect a quick resolution, not before May or June. Speed.

I am a captain in isolation. Hussain.