Cricket: Thorpe to replace Hussain as England's one-day captain

Graham Thorpe is expected to be announced as England's one-day captain today.

Thorpe, whose brilliant century in Sri Lanka helped England win both the final test and the series 2-1, will take over from his old friend Nasser Hussain, who has been forced to return home through injury.

Despite his fine batting, Thorpe was not first choice and was only offered the job when his Surrey team-mate Alec Stewart turned it down.

Not unsurprisingly, Stewart – who will have to keep wicket as well as possibly open the batting – felt it was one role too many to cope with in the cauldrons of Colombo and Dambulla, the two venues for the three-match series.

- INDEPENDENT