Cricket World Cup It does not rain often in Bulawayo - the drought there is the worst for half a century. But the rains came to that part of Zimbabwe yesterday and with them England's World Cup hopes were washed away.

They also spelled the end of Nasser Hussain as England's one-day captain. He resigned, while keeping the captaincy of England's Test side, as soon as his team's fate had become clear.

The England team, still in Port Elizabeth, had hoped for a narrow Pakistan victory against Zimbabwe that would have guaranteed England's progression to the next stage of the tournament on the technicality of having a superior run rate. Instead, the match was abandoned, the points shared and Zimbabwe finished the group two points ahead of England.

The fact that four of their 14 points were gained because, after six weeks of moral and political self-examination, England decided not to fulfil their fixture in Harare brought the story full circle.

Hussain (35) later this month, had had enough. "The time has come for me to stand down as England's one-day captain, although I would like to continue as England's Test captain if the selectors still want me to do that.

"I firmly believe England are a better side with me in charge. I am mentally and physically drained after this winter and intend to take two months off completely."

Apart from the birth of his second son, Joel, in Perth in November, Hussain's has been a winter without optimism. His team have been beaten by Australia 11 times and he has fallen out publicly with the England and Wales Cricket Board, which, he felt, did not give the players enough support and leadership on the question of whether to go to Zimbabwe.

He has made only 24 runs in three World Cup innings. "I firmly believe that England are a better side with me as captain, my team have always responded to me but I also believe I don't warrant a place in the side any more and I am an honourable man," he said.

There may be other victims of England's failure: perhaps the chairman of selectors, David Graveney, or the chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board, Tim Lamb, who presided over a doomed campaign that he never believed in - the refusal to play in Zimbabwe - or senior players such as Andrew Caddick and Alec Stewart as England rebuild their one-day side.

Meanwhile Michael Vaughan of Yorkshire and Marcus Trescothick of Somerset were named favourites to replace Hussain.