Two of Nasser Hussain's potential successors, Michael Vaughan and Adam Hollioake, have joined their national captain as three of Wisden's five annual Cricketers of the Year.

Hollioake and Vaughan are both under consideration to replace Hussain as captain of England's one-day side, with his successor due to be named within the next week.

Both had exceptional seasons in 2002 with Vaughan smashing seven centuries in 12 Tests over the past year and Hollioake overcoming the death of his younger brother Ben to lead Surrey to their third County Championship in four seasons.

Wisden editor Tim de Lisle insisted Hollioake's award was for cricketing reasons alone. "Adam scored a lot of runs at high speed in 2002.

"What he has done as captain of Surrey is what all of English cricket needs to do -turning the club round, mending its divisions and getting the players to perform with the toughness and attack or an international team."

For Vaughan, who has swept all before him, it completes a notable and unique double – he is also pictured on the cover of this year's almanack, the first player to ever be so honoured.

Hussain's inclusion was confirmed when the captain himself inadvertently broke Wisden's embargo in his Sunday newspaper column.

Of Hussain, de Lisle said: "As a captain, he is a major figure in cricket history, who has changed the culture of his team.

"And if you just take his batting alone, it is remarkable how often he makes a hundred in the first Test of a series or on a bad wicket."

The other two players honoured were South Africa's Shaun Pollock (now sacked as Proteas captain after their poor World Cup) and Australian run-machine Matthew Hayden.

Players can only be named one of Wisden's five Players of the Year once in their career.

29 Apr, 2003