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After three weeks of rumour and supposition, following England's failure to reach the second round of the World Cup, Nasser Hussain was named captain yesterday. His appointment, which will be confirmed at a press conference at Lord's this morning, was supplemented by the recruitment of Duncan Fletcher as coach. Fletcher, 50, who is in his third year with Glamorgan, will start a two-year contract on Oct 1.

So the baton has passed jointly from Alec Stewart and David Lloyd, two straight-as-a-dye Englishmen, to Hussain, who was born in Madras 31 years ago, and Fletcher, who arrived in this country from Zimbabwe by way of Cape Town. Hussain, who settled in north-east London as a young boy, becomes the first England captain from the Asian community.

``I am delighted and immensely proud,'' said Hussain, the Essex captain, after he accepted the selectors' invitation to succeed Stewart. ``It is a huge honour, the biggest in the game.'' His predecessor endorsed him. ``We made our Test debuts together in Jamaica,'' said Stewart, ``and have always got on well. I have already rung him to congratulate him and to wish him all the best.''

Explaining the decision to throw out Stewart less than a year after England won their first major Test series for 13 years, when they beat South Africa 2-1, David Graveney, the chairman of the panel, said things had not gone so well in the intervening months. ``In view of his recent form, and the results, we felt it was time for a change.''

That change, he said, ``was not a knee-jerk reaction to our performance. By taking our time we are satisfied that we have made the right decision. We feel that Hussain is the right candidate and the right man to lead us into the future.'' The new captain, said Graveney, had shown a ``huge passion'' for the job during his interview at Lord's last Friday.

The only other man interviewed was Middlesex captain Mark Ramprakash, who is two years younger. Like Hussain, Ramprakash is firmly established in the Test side and, again like Hussain, has had disciplinary problems in the past. No fixed time has been set on Hussain's tenure.

His first task is to win the four-Test series against New Zealand, that begins at Edgbaston on July 1. The side for that game will be announced on Sunday morning and Hussain's influence will therefore be seen immediately. After the appalling cricket England have played in both forms of the game in the last six months some changes are inevitable.

What kind of character are England getting from Hussain? It all depends on who one asks. To some he is a touchy man who has been guilty of sharp practice and who has an insufficient regard for the greater good of the team. To others he is a canny tactician who refuses to tolerate excuses and who has finally doused a volcanic temperament.

He has served as vice-captain not only to Stewart but also to Michael Atherton in the five years that he did the job. When Stewart inherited the captaincy in April last year many people felt it should have gone to Hussain. The fact that it did not suggests that the selectors were unsure of his alleged reformation, in which case he must have improved out of all recognition.

When Graveney spoke of him being the right candidate he also became the only candidate the moment that Ramprakash was overlooked. Hussain talked last night of looking forward and not reflecting too much on what has gone on before. All captains begin like that but, in order to make sense of their current woeful position, England have first to look back on the mess they have made of things.

As well as winning matches again they must begin to make friends. The current team is pretty charmless, and as Hussain has never viewed making friends as the most important quality on a cricket field, there could be some rough times ahead. Perhaps he should remember his own words, apparently selected with care: ``It is a huge honour, the biggest in the game.''

Fletcher, who coached Glamorgan to the championship two summers ago in his first season with the club, was the Zimbabwe captain during the 1983 World Cup, and later made his name at Western Province in South Africa. ``He has a proven record as a winner,'' said Tim Lamb, the chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board. Fletcher outlined three attributes for the future: ``discipline, determination and hard work''.

Factfiles

Duncan Fletcher

1948: Born Sept 27, Southern Rhodesia (later Zimbabwe).

1970s: Plays for Rhodesia in South Africa's Currie Cup competition.

1983: Captains Zimbabwe in their first World Cup. Scores 69 not out and takes four for 42 in shock 13-run win over Australia at Trent Bridge, and is named man of the match.

1993: Becomes coach of South African side Western Province.

1995-96: Guides Western Province to the Castle Cup, South Africa's domestic competition (replaced Currie Cup).

1997: In his first season at Glamorgan, coaches the side to their first County Championship since 1969.

1997-98: Western Province are crowned South Africa's one-day champions, winning the Standard Bank League.

1998-99: Western Province are domestic champions again, winning the Supersport series, the successor to the Castle Cup.

1999: Returns as coach of Glamorgan after choosing to miss 1998 season.

June 24: Appointed England coach on two-year contract, succeeding David Lloyd.

Nasser Hussain

1968: Born Madras, India, March 28.

1976: Youngest player to represent Essex U-11 Schools, aged eight.

1980: Youngest player to represent Essex U-15 Schools, aged 12.

1987: Makes Essex debut.

1990: Controversially chosen for England tour to West Indies ahead of another emerging young batsman, Michael Atherton. Played both innings of fifth Test in Antigua with broken wrist and misses most of the next season with the injury.

1993: Earns England recall for last four Tests of Ashes series.

1994: Chosen for England tour to West Indies but fails to play any Tests.

1996: Appointed Essex vice-captain. Captains England A on successful tour to Pakistan. Recalled to full England side and scores first Test century.

1998: Struggles during series in West Indies, but plays all five Tests in 3-1 series victory over South Africa.

1998-9: Is England's most successful batsman in Ashes series defeat in Australia and ends England's disappointing World Cup as the country's top batsman in the averages.

June 24: Appointed England captain.