Win persuaded Hussain to keep captaincy

Duncan Fletcher, the England coach, hinted yesterday that Nasser Hussain could have resigned as captain if England had suffered a whitewash in the Ashes series. Fletcher now feels his captain's self respect has been boosted by out-playing the best team in the world.

"This win was pretty crucial for him. It was very important England won under his captaincy," Fletcher said. "At times he was under pressure. But he played so well. He won an important game for England through his captaincy.

"You've got to have a win somewhere along the line. You can't just keep captaining and losing, losing and still enjoy the job. To win like that and to win so convincingly must have given him a lot of confidence."

Fletcher says he wants Hussain to stay in the job for as long as possible, even though rumours persist that Hussain will resign after the World Cup. Hussain said he would sit down with the England management committee to discuss his future after the World Cup.

His predecessor Alec Stewart said Hussain had done an excellent job: "As captain you feel the pressure a little more when you're losing and enjoy winning a bit more," he said. "But the win will have done him the world of good as as long as we have a good World Cup I'm sure he'll carry on."

Stewart, 39, confirmed that he was not thinking of retiring while his good form continues. "While I've got an appetite for the game and I'm playing well then I'll be available for selection," he said.

Ashley Giles hopes to make an England comeback in the remaining one-day matches in Australia and is confident he will be fit for World Cup. The Warwickshire left-arm spinner, who suffered a broken wrist batting in the nets in Adelaide six weeks ago, is scheduled to rejoin the England squad this weekend.

"I'm bowling properly now, I've taken throw-downs with the bat and there's no pain," Giles said. "So I'm sure I'll be fine by February."

England have at least four matches left in the VB Series and expect to take on the hosts in the best-of-three finals before flying to South Africa for the World Cup, which begins next month.

Ronnie Irani was due to captain England for the first time in their one-day game against a Don Bradman XI in Bowral last night. The Essex captain has had a disappointing tour so far, struggling for form with bat and ball. The Australia captain Steve Waugh withdrew from the Bradman XI because of a groin strain sustained while bowling in the final Test. His twin brother Mark was due to captain the side in the match at Bradman's home town south of Sydney.

* Jason Gillespie is expected to miss the remainder of the VB series because of an elbow injury. Gillespie, who landed awkwardly on his left elbow while bowling during the fifth Test visited a specialist in Melbourne and was instructed to rest for two to three weeks. Gillespie will be reassessed on 19 January by the team physiotherapist Errol Alcott. The fast bowler took 20 wickets in the Ashes series at 24.60 runs apiece.