The wins kept coming in 2000. Triumphs against Zimbabwe and the West Indies boosted the confidence of the team. The series win against the West Indies at home was the first for England since 1969.

Thought by many to be the finest tactical skipper England produced since Mike Brearly, Hussain's never-say-die attitude started to rub off the team.

He was a far better captain in Tests than ODIs. A one-day record of 28 wins and 27 losses in 56 matches may suggest otherwise, because a lot of those victories came again lesser-ranked foes.

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