Essex cricket supporters will have been shocked by reports last week suggesting Nasser Hussain would be quitting his post as County Captain.

According to the report in a national newspaper, Hussain had remarked that the pressure of his involvement with the England captaincy makes it too demanding for him to envisage playing County cricket this year.

He believes that the workload ahead, which will see England play seven Test matches and ten one-day internationals precludes much involvement with his County side.

Hussain was also reported as saying that he was drained, after an exhaustive year organising his benefit, but he would not be making a final decision on the Essex captaincy issue for a few weeks.

Worryingly for the County's supporters is the guarantee that Hussain will be one of a number of players contracted to the ECB for the summer.

One feature of that contract asks counties to use sparingly ECB players and it would appear that Hussain is already seeking that protection.

Should he decide against involving himself with Essex, it would leave the way for Ronnie Irani to assume the captaincy on a full-time basis.

He was appointed as vice-captain last season and the role is one that the popular cricketer would relish.

Speaking exclusively to This Is Essex partner the Chronicle, Irani said: "I haven't personally seen the reports about Nasser's involvements next season but if it's true that he is contemplating quitting as skipper, then my hat is definitely in the ring.

"Obviously it's up to the chairman and committee to decide but I'd relish the chance to skipper the side. On the occasions when I did captain the side last year, I felt that I did all that I could with, what has to be said, was a limited squad.

"It would be a major disappointment if Nasser doesn't play much for us because he's a true international cricketer and we would miss him badly.

''Some people expressed concerns that they felt the captaincy would affect my game but that wasn't the case last season and I never believed it would be a problem anyway.''

"If the club want me, I'm ready for the challenge and would be delighted to take up the opportunity."

There are only two realistic successors to Hussain at this stage with Irani and the Essex overseas player Stuart Law being those in the frame.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.