Hussain jets back into Heathrow on Thursday

By Mike Sinclair, PA Sport

Nasser Hussain stated his determination to continue as England's Test captain and complete his century of appearances as the World Cup team arrived back at Heathrow on Thursday.

Hussain insisted he wanted to captain England this summer and said he would definitely be available to tour Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the West Indies next winter, whether or not he keeps his job as skipper.

He emerged from flight SA226, which arrived just five minutes late from Johannesburg, and was greeted with a ripple of applause and a couple of shouts of 'Good old Nasser' from well-wishers at Terminal 1.

Lancashire all-rounder Andrew Flintoff was first out from baggage control as the players were reunited with their wives and partners and, after a traumatic tour, Hussain faced the cameras and microphones, saying he was "just wanting to get home after five months away".

He said he had no regrets about his decision to quit as one-day captain after England's elimination from the first stage of the World Cup following their decision not to play Zimbabwe in Harare, which cost them four points and played a crucial part in their elimination.

"I had to play in both forms of cricket and captain both forms," he said.

"I had five months away from home and you just can't do everything. A lot of that went into my decision.

"I don't like giving away any side, but one-day cricket and me haven't got on very well recently

"The reason I did it was to carry on as captain in the Test match arena. I made my decision throughout the winter."

He resolutely declined to speculate on his successor as one-day captain, saying: "It's nothing to do with me. It's up to the selectors to decide."

But he hoped they would retain him as Test captain.

"I would like to carry on for a long while yet. I've got some unfinished business," he added.

"My form has been very good. I want to get the Test side back to where it was in the past and my captaincy record speaks for itself.

"I would like to play 100 Tests, it's been an ambition of mine. Whether this is as captain or not is up to the selectors."

Following the political wrangling which preceded the decision to pull out of the opening match, Hussain described England's World Cup campaign as 'frustrating'.

But he wished Zimbabwe well for the rest of the competition and hoped their Test team would still come to England during the summer.

"I hope they have a good run in the World Cup. I wish them well for the rest of the tournament and I hope they come over here," added Hussain.

"They have got Test matches at Durham and Lord's and I hope they come, I'm sure they will.

"We always play good Test matches against them and we get on well with their players. I hope we can continue our friendly rivalry against them."