The England team management will allow any of the players who want to attend Ben Hollioake's funeral to go to the service in Perth on Thursday. Hollioake, 24, was killed in a car accident on Saturday when the car he was driving spun out of control as he came off a freeway. England's devastated players wore black armbands in respect and flags were lowered to half-mast in respect to Hollioake, who was with the team in New Zealand for the recent one-day series. A minute's silence was observed before the fourth day's play on Sunday.

Three of Hollioake's Surrey team-mates are in the England Test touring party - Mark Butcher, Graham Thorpe and Mark Ramprakash - while it is understood that Alec Stewart, the former England captain who opted out of this winter's tours, is heading to Perth for the funeral service.

The final Test match against New Zealand does not get under way in Auckland until Easter Saturday, allowing time for any players who wish to make the long trip to Perth (an eight-hour flight) and back to New Zealand.

"I don't think we could in any way hold people back from going, and I don't think that is a cricketing decision," said Nasser Hussain today. "It will be a personal decision that everyone who knew Ben will have to take."

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