OWN CORRESPONDENT, Harare | Wednesday 7.20pm.
ENGLAND cricket skipper Nasser Hussain said on Wednesday that he is convinced his country can become a force in international cricket once again.
England have just concluded a four month tour of southern Africa with mixed results.
Hussain recognized that a 2-1 Test series defeat by South Africa, plus losing the final of a triangular one-day tournament to South Africa and then beating Zimbabwe 3-0 in an international series does not add up to success from which a rapid advance can be made.
He said at a news conference in Harare after the scheduled fourth match against Zimbabwe was rained off: “Success can only be measured by results, by victories. For instance we really should have won that final. It was a poor wicket but we were chasing only 140 or so.
“However, there are really positive signs coming out of this South Africa and Zimbabwe tour.
Hussain recalled a recent conversation with Mike Atherton in which Atherton gave his opinion that if he, Hussain and Alec Stewart did well, the team itself would succeed.
But Hussain added that relying on key players does not apply to top teams like Australia and urged for success from the whole team.
HE said that England must recognise its low position among Test nations. — AFP