Hussain steps down

Speaking immediately after England salvaged a draw in the rain-interrupted first test against South Africa at Edgbaston, he said that it was 'Time for a change'.

Hussain gave up the one-day captaincy following the World Cup in South Africa, but he was retained as England's test skipper before the Zimbabwe matches.

The success of the one-day side under Michael Vaughan in the early part of this season has increased media speculation that a change at the helm of the test side might not be far away, but the announcement today has still come as a surprise.

Hussain stated that he had been '... thinking about it ever since the World Cup' and in Vaughan he thinks that England have a captain who is made of the right stuff.

'Michael Vaughan has shown in the last few months that he is a very capable leader and that's what I have been waiting for. There are some good lads out there and the last thing they want is a tired leader'.

Hussain, who led England to 17 victories in 45 test matches, is named in the squad for the second test match, starting at Lord's on Thursday.

Posted by Eddie