Duncan Fletcher and Nasser Hussain have been discussing their mutual respect for one-another in light of England's historic series win in Sri Lanka. Far from basking in the well-deserved glory of their achievement however, they are already looking to, and planning for, the future.

"The way this side have played has given me a lot of pride, and that keeps you going," Hussain accepted. "Everybody has got a bit of a buzz about the game, but the moment you say that you start thinking ahead about who we've got next. You begin to think about Pakistan and taking on their really good seam attack at Lord's."

Hussain was originally perceived as being too much of a loner to be captaincy material, and lost out to Alec Stewart in the race to take-over from Mike Atherton three years ago. However, Hussain explained how the roles of captain and batsman are quite separate and he was merely concentrating on his job of batsman in the past.

"When I was first interviewed for the job I said that you behave one way as a player because you focus on your own game, and that is your job," he said. "It's not up to you to worry about what we're going to do if we win the toss or what the side's going to be. You have to give people credit that when they are captain they are going to behave differently."

Hussain also pointed out that the friendship and support of his fellow players and the back-room staff have all contributed to the teams' improved performances.

"I'd have found this job much more difficult if I hadn't got on with the people around me or I didn't believe in them. We have a coach who gives full support in the difficult times and a team who work hard for each other.

"That is where Duncan has been so brilliant. There are certain things that he's so crystal clear about that I didn't have in my first series against New Zealand. That was just me on my own, and I didn't have a bloke beside me with crystal clear views on selection, fitness and the resting of players; areas I didn't know anything about because I was just a number three batsman."

That respect is clearly reflected by Fletcher who believes that their skills compliment each other well.

"We have a great respect for one another," Fletcher admitted. "I don't know why, but the puzzle seems to fit all the time. He manages in a certain way; I manage in a certain way, and we believe in each other's strengths and weaknesses."

He recalled his first meetings with Hussain, and recalled that he had had misgivings about the size of the task in front of them.

"I mentioned to him last night that I keep getting flashbacks to when we were walking up the steps to have a photograph taken at Lord's before the press conference, and it was then I realised it was going to be a very difficult job," he said. "I didn't know Nasser. We had a few photos taken and then we parted ways again. It's so strange for that to happen when you don't know someone, and two years down the line all this takes place."

Meanwhile, coach and captain already have their eyes focused on the future. Mindful that some of the team are nearer the end of their careers than the beginning, Fletcher commented that: "We've got to go and find some younger guys and they have to be identified quite quickly, especially on the batting side.

"There are no gaps at the moment but we don't know how long people like Atherton and Stewart are going to go on playing for. I hear they've talked about packing up after the Ashes although I have a feeling they are enjoying themselves, enjoying the camaraderie of the team and they might go on."

Fletcher has already proved his ability to spot talent, promoting Hoggard and Trescothick, and admitted to having "one or two players in mind."

Fletcher may also have to look for a replacement for Hussain in due course. The captain announced that: "You can't go on too long in this job. I just want to do it well before I hand it on to somebody else because it's far too important a job just to sit in there and collect the dough. When there is somebody else ready to have a go then you pass it on."

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