Cricket: Hussain keen on role as captain

ADAM HOLLIOAKE yesterday ruled himself out as successor to Mike Atherton as England's Test captain, but said he wanted to keep the one- day job after his success in Sharjah in December.

That was in stark contrast to Nasser Hussain. The England vice-captain, who has not been included in the one-day squad, said on his return home that he did want the Test job.

"I'm very keen," Hussain said. "I'd love to captain England. I couldn't think of a greater thing to do."

Hollioake does not think he will be offered the job by the selectors, David Graveney, Mike Gatting and Graham Gooch, nor would it be a disappointment to him. He said: "I would not want it at the moment because I have not proved myself in Test cricket.

"I have only played in three Tests, plus the Jamaican affair at the start of this tour, and I believe you have to earn your spot as a player first.

"I feel different about being one-day captain, because my one-day record is good."

England's one-day team play a warm-up game against a Vice-Chancellor's XI today in preparation for Sunday's opening one-day international against the West Indies.

Hussain was both realistic and philosophical about his role in the England set-up. "There are two or three candidates who I am sure are very keen to do the job," he said. "If it doesn't go my way then it's not the end of the world.

"The captaincy is not the be-all and end-all to me because I enjoy just playing for England, but I've done two years in the vice-captaincy role, I've sat in on selection and tactics and virtually captained every ball in my head anyway so it wouldn't be a huge change for me.

"I've got a few ideas of my own and a few things that I would like to do."