Mike Atherton's decision on the England captaincy will centre as much on his worries about personal batting form as the fact that he admits four years in the top job "has taken its toll". England's hierarchy might be happy for Atherton to carry on, especially after the incredible 19run Oval victory which shocked Australia.

So far, Atherton has given few clues as to his future. "It's all too emotional at the moment. What I need to do is get away and have a few days off," he said yesterday. "This is a very important decision for me and the people involved in English cricket, so I hope I make the right decision.

"Four years captaining England takes it toll. Physically and mentally it's very tiring. A few months off this autumn will do me a lot of good and I need to get fitter and stronger for the challenges ahead.

"I badly need a rest and it's been a poor series with the bat for me. That's something I need to think about," he added.

Bob Bennett, chairman of the England committee and a close confidante of Atherton as his county chairman at Lancashire for 11 years, would not be drawn into predictions. "I think Mike is a fine captain, as he showed by his performance to prevent Australia from getting 124," he said.

Chairman of the England selectors, David Graveney yesterday added: "We won in the end because of good disciplined bowling, from Andy Caddick and Phil Tufnell in particular, because of really good fielding - and because of inventive captaincy. There can be no doubts about Mike's tactical awareness when he defends a total like that."

"I and the other two selectors have been in constant discussion with Mike Atherton during the Test, and I personally have said now all I want to say to him.

"Mike was always going to go away following the Test for a final think, and he has earned the right to make up his mind. He will ring me in the middle of this week."

Meanwhile, Surrey yesterday blamed cricket's rulers for the controversial pitch which saw England win the final Ashes Test within three days.

They claimed they were under orders from Lord's to produce a spinner's wicket - against their wishes.

It prompted Australian captain Mark Taylor, whose side clinched a 3-2 series victory to retain the Ashes, to criticise the state of the Oval surface, which began to deteriorate on the first day.

"It was a pity that the game didn't go longer but if you put out wickets that are sub-standard you are going to get a shorter game," said Taylor.

Surrey, though, are likely to make their own protests after receiving an edict from Lord's to prepare a spinning surface which Phil Tufnell exploited to finish with match figures of 11 for 93.

The county's chief executive Paul Sheldon said: "This is not the sort of pitch we would have liked to have produced at the Oval but it was a case of having to adhere to the will of the ECB."

But no action is likely to be taken until the ECB have received the umpires' reports, which are prepared after every Test.

If Lord's officials, having consulted the umpires' report, decide the pitch was not up to standard, Surrey could be given a similar suspended sentence to the one handed out to Warwickshire after Tests against West Indies and India in 1995 and 1996 ended prematurely.