I don't need vice-skipper

I won't be starting my England career with a vice-captain and, to be honest, although it's a position I've had in the past, it's not one that's needed.

I think I've made it clear by now that I intend to be very much my own man out on the pitch, but that's not to say I won't be looking for advice from as many people as possible if I need to during a game. The team has a number of very senior and experienced performers.

Also, I'll have players such as Mark Ramprakash and Graham Thorpe there to take over if I'm ill or off the field through injury.

On the Essex front, the boys are in for a difficult four days at Old Trafford, with Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan in such tremendous form for hosts Lancashire.

However, there won't be a dressing room more fired up than the Essex one with Ronnie Irani captaining the team on his return to his old county.

Ronnie will be looking for 110 per cent from each and every player and will be desperately disappointed if the side doesn't give a good account of itself up there.

Thrill of captaincy is second to results

I'm speaking while travelling up to Edgbaston for the start of the First Test match under my captaincy and the answer to the first question is no, the number one job in cricket does not carry with it the luxury of travel by a private jet.

I'm in a car in pouring rain and can only hope things get better on the weather side before the big match is due to start against New Zealand.

To say it's been quite a few days would be an understatement. I'm sure all of you picked up on the speculation beforehand, but it was honestly Thursday morning of last week before I got the phone call to say that I was the new England captain.

It's difficult to describe the feeling on being told news like that. Obviously I'd been to meet the England hierarchy the previous week and knew I was in with a good chance.

However, to finally get the news was a magical moment which will live with me for ever. Of course it was difficult to dwell on things too much as the next few days were so hectic I just didn't know whether I was coming or going.

I'm grateful I took the advice I was given straightaway by turning off my mobile and putting my home phone on answerphone for 24 hours until the official press conference at Lord's on Friday.

When I put them back on again I had more than 30 messages on each. It's a well-documented story now that, on my way to Lord's, I called in at a cafe for a cappuccino and sandwich.

While I was there someone told me "You've got a job on your hands there, Nasser" and it sunk in then the responsibility of it all and the expectations of the country.

After the press conference, the next day disappeared in a blur. I had a clay pigeon shooting afternoon on as part of my benefit which also included a 60s night back at Essex in the evening.

I got to bed about midnight and at 6am on Saturday was whisked off down to Taunton by Channel 4 to help launch their Test match coverage.

From there it was back to Chelmsford for my match with the Bunbury XI against David English's line-up.

I'm glad to say we had a good turnout at Essex for the match, not just for my benefit but also for the very good cause of the English Schools' Cricket Association.

Thanks to everyone who came along and to all Essex fans for the fantastic amount of good wishes I've received on my new job. From Chelmsford it was straight on to Lord's for the selection meeting for the First Test.

The press interest has been overwhelming, but hasn't surprised me. I always knew whoever got the job would be thrown into the immediate spotlight, but I'm sure things will calm down a little as the weeks go on.

Now all I want to do is concentrate on the cricket. I've made my views clear in so many sections of the media and I'm determined to do everything in my power to get the England side back on the winning trail.

I'm sure every cricket fan will have their views on the line-up we've gone for. All I can say is that we've picked a squad of established players, newcomers, and men being given another chance, who we're confident will give of their best once the action starts.

It certainly won't be easy as, on recent form, New Zealand won't think they have anything to fear from us.

We certainly had to make changes. We'd lost the Ashes series and suffered first stage dismissal in the World Cup and, however good the players are, that's not good enough. We had to try something new.

No major changes planned for Essex

I know it's a matter of some speculation, but at the moment my appointment with England does not mean any major changes to my position as Essex skipper.

I'm not about to throw in the towel after less than six months of leading my county. I've always made it clear of my pride in Essex and how much I owe to them - but for them I wouldn't be playing for England, let along captaining my nation.

Having said that, there may have to be adjustments to my role. It could be that, at times, even when I'm not playing for England, I may have to say at a particular time that I'm needed for something on the international side.

With this being my benefit year as well, I'm going to need a lot of help on all fronts. I've already had advice from some quarters about the dangers of taking just too much on.

At Essex I have a superb vice-captain in Ronnie Irani and the backing of a tremendous committee.

All I can say at the moment is that we'll play things by ear and, if changes need to be made at any given time for the good of everyone, they will be.

However, I'd hate anyone to think that my being named England captain in any way diminishes my love for playing and leading Essex.

I'm passionate about wanting success for my county in the same way as I want it for my country and I won't be approaching anything with Essex half-heartedly.

Thriving England team boosts feel-good factor

I'M fully aware of just how much the British sporting public are looking to us to help along that "feel good" factor that's so important to day to day life over here.

Certainly I'm a great believer that good sporting success does lift the nation tremendously and I'm sure that's an extra pressure people like Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski have carried at the Wimbledon tennis.

That's okay by me. We'll be looking to give that lift to the country with a performance and England side to be proud of - not only in this Test but throughout the series.

My big day - I joined new England coach Duncan Fletcher (right) to meet the press

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.