London: England cricket captain Nasser Hussain's father said on Tuesday his son would have resigned from his post if the team had suffered an Ashes whitewash.

Joe Hussain told BBC Radio Five Live, "I can't be 100 per cent sure but I believe had England lost 5-0 then it would be looking for a new captain."

However, England's 225-run win in the fifth Test at Sydney on Monday - Australia's first home Test defeat for four years - meant it avoided the whitewash although it still lost the series by a crushing 4-1 margin.

Joe Hussain added that Nasser had been upset by criticism from former England captains Ian Botham and Bob Willis, now both commentators on satellite broadcaster Sky Sports.

And he said that Botham in particular was in no position to question Nasser's captaincy.

"I just can't believe someone like Botham can go so hard on Nasser. I don't think Botham won one Test as captain," explained Hussain, who played first-class cricket in his native India and now runs an indoor cricket school in Essex, eastern England.

Nasser Hussain has said he will discuss his future with the England selectors after the World Cup which begins next month in South Africa although rumours persist he has already decided to resign the captaincy after the tournament.

Meanwhile England coach Duncan Fletcher, who wants Hussain to stay on as captain, said the Sydney victory would bolster his self-belief.

"This win was pretty crucial for him," Fletcher said.

Copyright AFP 2001

Extras:
India bowls out New Zealand for 168, Zaheer takes 3