Australia can put an end to Hussain

Duncan Fletcher can be a gregarious, effusive fellow, but his relationship with the media is one of scarcely guarded mistrust. Press conferences are conducted with all the animation of Arnold Schwarzenegger reciting the precepts of Polonius. Cards are kept so close, there is an imprint of the Queen of Hearts on his chest.

But at St George's Park yesterday another whither-England question saw him colour and bristle. "I just don't think it should be in this forum to discuss," he snapped. "We have an important game against Australia so why should we want negative things written? I don't think we should be discussing that right now."

If the question touched a nerve then there is little point in pretending that it may not be an issue in the near future. If England's match against Australia goes pear-shaped tomorrow, Nasser Hussain's side almost certainly will be heading home. And with them, unless all the runes have been misread, will go the Hussain era, at least as far as the one-day side is concerned.

Unlike Test cricket, which despite ICC's attempts at a championship table lacks a focus beyond individual series, the World Cup provides a natural four-year cycle for one-day cricket. Teams plan around it, build their squads and their hopes, and then, when it is over, look to the next one. Hussain's captaincy of the one-day side began in Bloemfontein on the back of England's World Cup failure in 1999, and may well finish in Port Elizabeth.

The indications have been there for some time. Even before he left for Australia, Hussain had been hinting that the ridiculously punishing schedules imposed on international sides would mean him reconsidering whether he could carry on leading the side in both forms of the game. There is also the chance that the selectors feel that whatever Hussain's own wishes, it might be wise to move on both in terms of captaincy and as a front-order batsman.

When Fletcher joined Hussain as a new management team, it offered a clean sheet, a chance to take the longer-term view and allow the team to develop. Continuity was the watchword. But that ideal has not come to full fruition: tomorrow's will be the 70th one-day international played under Fletcher - significantly fewer than any other major team in that time - and the 55th with Hussain as captain. Forty-two players have taken the field, but 19 have played fewer than 10 matches and only Hussain, Marcus Trescothick and Nick Knight have participated in more than 50 of the games.

Even a month ago, England did not know their best side. Fletcher added perspective to this yesterday when pointing out that England's batting danger man Michael Vaughan was actually a 25-match novice in this form of cricket.

"They talk about this young Indian kid Yuvraj Singh," he said, "this new up-and-coming cricketer, and you find he has played 64 matches in two years, more games than two-thirds of my team."

The playing record, too, is open to question. Of 69 matches, 31 have been won and 36 lost. Only three of 13 series have been won, two of them against Zimbabwe. As a result there is a compelling case for tearing up the blueprint now and starting the rebuilding programme before next summer, using the likes of Trescothick, Vaughan, Paul Collingwood, James Anderson and Andy Flintoff as the nucleus.

The future of the captaincy provides its own conundrum. If Hussain is to continue the Test leadership, which he must, then he has to be relieved of the responsibility not just of captaining the one-day team but also of playing a form of the game at which he does not stand out.

Obvious names will be bandied: Trescothick, who was given the task on one occasion and seemed to be Hussain's deputy, was eased aside when the captain missed the Namibia game, the role going to Alec Stewart. Consensus is that the left-hander needs to concentrate on re-establishing his credential as a destructive opener without the distraction of leadership. Likewise Vaughan. Collingwood has an instinct for and understanding of the demands of the game: he is a fast learner.

The real answer though could lie in the decision six years ago - innovative by England standards - to appoint Adam Hollioake as the one-day captain. Immediately he won a series abroad and engendered a ferocious team spirit. But he was not allowed to see the job through.

This is a genuine leader, still only 31, and an excellent competitor who has succeeded as a player at international level. He should have been in the current World Cup squad. If offered the job, though, he should take it on his terms: a guarantee that he would take the side on to the next World Cup in the Caribbean.

Four ready to fill Hussain's shoes

Michael Vaughan

Age: 28 One-day caps: 25

Mentioned as heir apparent for both captaincy jobs and may have the capacity to maintain the development of his world-class batting while learning the trade.

Paul Collingwood

Age: 26 Caps: 37

Has established himself as a valued member of the side. Epitomises the high-octane nature of the game and may have the flair that captaincy demands.

Marcus Trescothick

Age: 27 Caps: 60

Has deputised for Hussain and would be favourite to take over, but his form has suffered recently. The question is if he can react to the one-day tempo?

Adam Hollioake

Age: 31 Caps: 35

Led England in 14 of his 35 matches before a shoulder injury set his career back and England reverted to one captain for both sides. Is battle-hardened, though, and a proven leader.