HAMPSHIRE captain Robin Smith reckons England are going into the Test series against New Zealand with the wrong man at the helm.

As the two current lowest ranked Test playing nations face off for the wooden spoon on Thursday at Edgbaston, Smith says: "In my opinion Nasser Hussain is not the right man for the job."

Smith not only feels the England selectors have got the wrong individual for the job of leading England into the 21st century but also reckons they have wasted an opportunity of making a completely fresh start after the debacle of their World Cup campaign perpetuated a downward spiral by appointing a man who was part of an England set-up accustomed to losing and appointing a captain who will find it hard to get players on his side.

Smith said: "I have huge respect for Nasser as a cricketer but in my opinion he's not the right man for the job."

The England selectors have made it known they want a skipper in the mould of Australia's Steve Waugh; a winner with a mean streak and even a touch of arrogance.

Hussain has a reputation for not suffering fools gladly and Smith says: "He will expect total commitment but I don't think he's one of the most popular blokes.

"I think he knows he's unpopular but he's there to do a job and if he can win the respect from players he can do a good job.

Smith is convinced that Hussain's selection is a fudge, and the England selectors wasted the chance to wipe the slate clean and start from fresh.

"This would have been a wonderful oppportunity to take the bull by the horns and leave out players who have been in the side a long time and bring in fresh new faces.

"Selections have to be positive, and made towards winning the Ashes and developing a side for the next World Cup," says Smith, who feels that England's lack of success on the international arena has produced a down-beat mentality which Hussain's appointment will prolong.

"It would have been a wonderful opportunity to build a new side for the future but this doesn't do one thing or the other."

"Nasser has been involved with a losing camp, he's been part of an England side that has known little but failure. It really needs someone with a different mindset.

"My candidate would have been Michael Vaughan. He manages to score runs on a difficult surface at Headingley and he was a successful captain with the England A tour."

Although Smith would love to play for England again he has to accept that his international days are probably now at an end.

"If I'm advocating the picking of younger players I can hardly criticise people for not picking me. But if they thought I wasn't good enough three years ago when I was 32 they're hardly likely to think I'm good enough now."

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