CRICKET: I'M YOUR NEW ATHERTON

NASSER Hussain is already dreaming of being England's next captain and admits: "If the selectors ever make me an offer I'll bite their hands off."

Hussain may not seem the obvious man to take over when Mike Atherton finally decides to end his record-breaking run as skipper. Adam Hollioake is the popular choice - but the smart money is already going on Hussain.

That doesn't worry the 29-year-old Essex batsman. Soaking up the sun after England's thrilling Third Test win over the West Indies, Hussain told me: "I hope I get the chance to captain my country some time.

"I won't lose any sleep over it. If it comes along that's great, but it wouldn't bother me if I had to play under another guy when Athers goes.

"Needless to say, I hope I would be given the opportunity. Captaining England would be the greatest possible honour.

"It's not like skippering England at football or rugby. The cricket job is even more high-profile than that, and I think I would be up for it."

Hussain is already vice-captain and Atherton's right-hand man on this toughest of Caribbean tours.

It is a responsibility that has seemed to bring out the best in him. In the 18 months since being restored to the England side on a permanent basis Hussain has racked up five Test hundreds, including a match-winning 207 against Australia at Edgbaston last summer.

He believes that consistency stems from the faith that selectors David Graveney, Graham Gooch and Mike Gatting have shown in him. He says: "You've only got to look at my early international career. It was really stop-start stuff.

"I made my debut when we won in Jamaica eight years ago but then I broke my wrist and it took me some time to force my way back.

"Now I've played in 26 Tests, but the last 18 have come in an unbroken run since I got back into the side in 1996.

"That kind of commitment from the guys who pick the team can only help any player. It has certainly helped me."

Yet not so long ago Hussain was wondering if his Test career had passed him by. He reveals: "I remember going down to my local one winter's night three years ago to watch England play in Australia on Sky TV.

"I remember standing with a few of my mates, staring at the screen. Suddenly it hit me that I ought to be out there getting stuck into the Aussies instead of a few pints of lager.

"I asked myself a few key questions. Had I been too lazy? Had I wanted to go the extra mile?

"I went home determined to put it all right, and since then everything has worked out."

Hussain's West Indian campaign started well enough. He batted for over five hours to make an unbeaten 61 in the first innings of the Second Test at Port of Spain. Since then, however, nothing has gone right.

He explains: "First I got out on the seventh ball of a Courtney Walsh over. Then in the Third Test I was given out caught behind, again off Walsh, when I was nowhere near the ball. And in the second innings I got a shooter from Carl Hooper that gave me no chance.

"The caught-behind decision was the worst of the lot. As a batsman you prepare meticulously before any Test innings. You get yourself mentally geared for a big knock.

"When you get a decision like that it is very disappointing. I just had to show discipline and accept it. That wasn't easy.

"At least we went on to win the match. If we hadn't I think I would have been suicidal.

"That win was very important. Not just for the series but also for our long-term future.

"Not so long ago we might not have been able to bounce back after losing so narrowly in the Second Test. Now we seem a lot stronger and I'm convinced we are going in the right direction.

"We have tough series against South Africa and Australia coming up over the next year. I believe we have the ability and commitment to handle anything that's thrown at us."

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