Campbell hits out at unsporting Hussain

Zimbabwe batsman Alistair Campbell criticised England captain Nasser Hussain on the eve of the fourth match of the one-day series between the two sides.

Campbell was commenting on the poor relations between the teams after Hussain and England wicketkeeper James Foster were involved in a verbal confrontation with Zimbabwe batsman Andy Flower during the last game.

"The thing that really peeved our team was the way Hussain ran off the field and didn't shake anybody's hand," Campbell said.

"It's the first time in 170 games I have walked off a field and couldn't be bothered to shake hands. I felt like saying, 'as soon as your captain can learn to be a sportsman then maybe we will as well.'"

England won the game by four wickets to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series, and the three players involved in the incident received severe reprimands from referee Naushad Ali.

"I think it started in 1996 with then coach David Lloyd's comments," Campbell added. "The bad blood continues to run quite thick between the teams."

England lost the one-day series 3-0 five years ago after Lloyd was quoted as saying "we flipping murdered them" following the drawn first test.

The sides clash again at the Queens Sports Club on Wednesday.

Campbell will captain Zimbabwe because regular skipper Heath Streak is injured, but the team will only be finalised on the morning of the match.

Mail Cricket Editor