The latter pair have played in virtually all the matches on tour, and Stewart has begun to show the strain. The captain, wicketkeeper and front-line batsman has reached double figures only twice in six Test innings.

The decision to rest Stewart and Hussain gives Atherton, who ended a record spell as England captain last winter after losing the Test series in West Indies, a chance to lead the tourists back to better form after their 205-run defeat in the third Test in Adelaide.

Graham Gooch, the tour manager, insisted that there was nothing sinister in Stewart's absence against an Australian XI who include nine Test players, but it is sure to increase speculation that he is finding the workload difficult on his first tour as captain.

Alan Mullally, Dean Headley and Darren Gough are also rested after their exertions in Adelaide, leaving the seam bowling responsibilities with Ben Hollioake, Angus Fraser, Dominic Cork and Alex Tudor, while Peter Such retains the spin-bowling place ahead of Robert Croft.

Graham Thorpe, the Surrey batsman whose back problems forced him to leave the tour, has been told that he must play in the Sharjah Trophy in early April if he is to be considered a serious candidate for the World Cup finals next summer.