There was conflicting news for two Essex cricketers this week with the announcement that all-rounder Ronnie Irani had been appointed as the county's vice-captain for the 1999 season.

However, Essex captain and England vice-captain Nasser Hussain was feeling less joyous after he was overlooked in the 15 man England World Cup squad which was announced on Monday.

Irani was offered the vice-captaincy last Friday and immediately accepted: "You don't need to be asked twice to fulfil an offer like this," he said.

''I'm very proud to have been offered the vice-captain, it's a big thing to me. The county and the people mean everything to me because I'm Essex through and through."

The 27-year-old believes that the team have got to change their approach and attitude if they want to resume their mantle of leading contenders in the championship.

"We've got to get everybody working hard and be in better shape physically," he said.

"Last year, a lot of players were carrying niggling injuries and although we managed in the one-dayers, you can't get away with that in four-day cricket as we found out to our cost."

The Lancastrian who joined Essex in 1994 will certainly have been the people's choice for the task, having immediately impressed members and supporters when he joined the county with his never-say-die, unyielding enthusiasm for the game -- qualities he will impress upon his colleagues.

"I want us to enjoy our four-day cricket more. I believe that if you are physically in good shape and working to maximum ability, then success will come although we have to battle harder than we've done recently.

"But it's important to enjoy what you are doing. I'm pleased that we've stuck with the guys we had last season and not made changes because we all know the ability that the senior players and the youngsters have. Now we have to channel that into winning.

"Because of our physical condition, we haven't been able to do ourselves justice in the championship but we've all been working hard this winter -- very hard believe me -- concentrating on improving our physical condition and strengthening our mental approach with structured coaching."

And Ronnie delivered a message of hope for all followers of Essex cricket declaring, "At least in the Championship we'll be starting from the bottom, so we can only move upwards.

''With the hard work we've put in and the talent we've got, I'm sure that we will succeed."

Nasser Hussain was disappointed about being overlooked for the World Cup squad, although in the past he has not been considered as a leading one-day batsman by England.

He had, however, stayed on in Australia for the Triangular Series when Graham Thorpe was forced to return home with a continuing back complaint.

Hussain scored a number of important runs and often underpinned the innings batting solidly.

Apart from success with the bat, Hussain's fielding was exemplary and his omission is somewhat surprising given the question marks on fitness that hang over Thorpe and Michael Atherton.

In fact the preference of Atherton to Hussain is a strange choice.

Atherton is not exactly a dashing opener in the one-day game and given that England have included a number of more enterprising batsmen that could open the innings, Hussain's credentials would appear far more valid.

Now he appears to have paid the price for a couple of rash shots against the leg-spinning wiles of Australian Shane Warne which cost him his wicket during the winter Triangular Tournament and now his place in the World Cup.

However, that situation could be rectified if Thorpe or Atherton fail to satisfy the selectors of their return to full fitness allowing Hussain to be drafted into the line-up.

Ronnie Irani (left), who has been appointed as vice-captain of Essex for the 1999 season, and Nasser Hussain who has been left out of England's World Cup squad.

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