Surrey's captain did not even imagine he would be offered the captaincy when the selectors, David Graveney, Mike Gatting and Graham Gooch, come to choose the next Test captain.

``That's the easy answer to that question,'' said Hollioake in Barbados. ``I would not want it at the moment, because I have not proved myself in Test cricket.

``I have only played in three Tests, plus the Jamaican affair at the start of this tour, and I believe you have to earn your spot as a player first.''

Hollioake reclaimed the one-day captaincy when Atherton resigned in Antigua on Tuesday night and in effect was given the chance to continue where he left off in Sharjah, England's tournament success in December.

Mindful that Atherton missed Sharjah to rest; Hollioake added: ``This time I'm not a replacement, so it would appear that if it is taken away from me next time, it would only be because I haven't done the job properly.''

England's one-day team, who have been gathering in Barbados, play a warm-up game against a Vice-Chancellor's XI today in preparation for Sunday's opening match against the West Indies.

Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes are expected to play for the local team, along with Phil DeFreitas, Derbyshire's England fast bowler.