Butcher could be surprise candidate to follow Hussain

Successful start to World Cup campaign is overshadowed by continuing fall-out from Harare débâcle and captain's threat to resign

Following a spat with Nasser Hussain about an unauthorised apology that led to the England captain threatening to resign at the conclusion of the World Cup campaign, Tim Lamb, the chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board, is now on a bridge-building exercise.

While Lamb may consider the first span he constructs should be with the Zimbabwe Cricket Union, who have threatened to pull out of this summer's tour of the UK as a reaction to England failing to play in Harare, an olive branch also needs to be extended to his captain.

News that Lamb, along with David Morgan, the chairman of the ECB, had apologised to Malcolm Speed, the chief executive of the International Cricket Council, for the behaviour of Hussain at a private meeting on 7 February seemed to be the blow that finally cracked the England captain.

After a fortnight of intense pressure, where the issue of whether England play their match in Zimbabwe has been all-consuming, it was inevitable that Hussain's frustration and disappointment would come out somewhere. And it appears the decision of these two, and the fact his side learned they had lost four crucial points for not playing in Harare, pushed him to his outburst.

Hussain feels he has nothing to say sorry for and was furious. In the fractious meeting between the England touring party and Speed, who was attempting to quash the safety and security concerns of the players over their trip to Zimbabwe, Hussain told the head of the ICC that he had let down England. That details of this private meeting had become public knowledge gave Hussain another reason to "lose all trust in those in authority".

The Harare saga, which ended on Saturday when the ICC technical committee decided to award all four points to Zimbabwe, had left Hussain feeling "isolated, low and seriously considering his future".

Only time will tell if Hussain goes through with his threat, but that he reacted in such a passionate way will come as no surprise to those who know him. Hussain will have viewed the apology as a betrayal of the united front he felt he and the ECB had.

Hussain has his faults, which can be seen in the way he occasionally behaves both on and off the field. Such misdemeanours are caused because he cares deeply about anything he does. As a cricketer he sets himself high standards and expects the same of his colleagues.

If Hussain were to resign, English cricket will have a major dilemma on its hands because there is no natural successor. Marcus Trescothick or Michael Vaughan will be top of most lists and in all probability one of the two will one day get the job, but neither has appeared an inspirational or natural leader.

Trescothick is the vice-captain and would be the preferred choice of Hussain and the England coach, Duncan Fletcher. The Somerset opener has captained on a couple of occasions without impressing. Vaughan would be my choice of the two. He appears the more rounded and worldly figure and the extra responsibility is less likely to affect his batting. Other players who have recently had their names mentioned are David Fulton, from Kent, along with Mark Butcher and Adam Hollioake, from Surrey.

Fulton, the Kent captain, has come into consideration because of comments made by Australia's Test captain, Steve Waugh, during the winter. It is hard to believe he is a serious candidate because there have to be doubts over his ability as a captain and a batsman.

Hollioake would be the most inspirational leader of the five. He is the man who turned Surrey from underachievers into the best side in England but is a good enough player. England cannot afford a player who does not pull his weight.

This leaves Butcher. I am a big fan of the Surrey opener because of his selfless and team-orientated approach to the game. He has the charisma to do the job, but there would be a fear from the ECB that he may be on the front pages of newspapers as much as the back. It would be a brave decision to go for Butcher, but it is one I would like to see the selectors take.