England's World Cup Group A clash against Australia on Sunday could be Nasser Hussain's last match as captain but he is determined to concentrate on staying in the tournament rather than mull over his own future.

Hussain has suggested he could resign at the end of the World Cup over the handling of England's drawn-out decision to boycott their match in Zimbabwe.

But he said: "I'm captaining my country in the biggest game we have had in a long while so everything else is irrelevant.

"Tomorrow's game is not about me, it's about England trying to qualify in the World Cup. You can't sit down and make any major decisions when you are in the middle of such an important tournament. We have to go out there and beat Australia and it's as simple as that."

Hussain and England have endured a tiring winter since leaving home for the Ashes tour on October 14 but must put fatigue out of their minds as they attempt to end a 13-match losing streak in one-day cricket to Australia.

"This is probably the biggest game a lot of us have played so why feel tired?" Hussain said. "It's a very picturesque ground and it's against Australia which would have a special importance whether it's the World Cup or not. We've got to go out there and enjoy the occasion and not worry about being tired.

"We haven't really thought about how many we have lost to them recently. It's a case of when you get into good positions you have to finish them off -- it is your skill levels that win you games.

'AUSTRALIAN HAMMERING'

"Australia have come here and played against some of the great sides of world cricket and given them a hammering, which goes to show what we have been through in recent months."

England's only recent victory over the Australians was their win in the fifth Ashes test.

They also went close in the second final of a triangular one-day series in Australia, however, losing to Ricky Ponting's side by just five runs.

That has given Hussain confidence for a match they must win to have any realistic hope of staying in the World Cup.

"Cricket is a fairly simple game and you don't need to reinvent the wheel or anything, you just have to go out and do the basics right," Hussain added. "The Australians have so much flair and talent that we have to put them under pressure so they feel as though they can't express themselves."

PERILOUS POSITION

England's defeat to India in Durban on Wednesday has left them in a perilous position but it is their decision to boycott their opening match in Zimbabwe on security and moral concerns which could ultimately end their World Cup campaign at the first stage.

"In some quarters we got a lot of criticism for agonising over the Zimbabwe decision but the last few weeks have shown why we thought about that issue for so long," Hussain said.

"It could cost us a place in the next round but that doesn't take away from the fact of what we and the board did. We feel that we made the right decision and it was never really about four points.

"It was about what was right but unfortunately for us as players it was a lose, lose, lose situation. That decision will be there for a long time but this tournament will only be here for a few weeks."

England have a full squad to choose from, with Nick Knight expected to play despite a cyst on his knee.