Smith hits 277 as Hussain quits after Edgbaston draw

Nasser Hussain has resigned as England Test captain after the first Test against South Africa at Edgbaston ended in a draw, a match dominated by a double century from the young South African captain Graeme Smith.

Hussain announced his decision on 28 July, the final day of the Test. Michael Vaughan, who scored 156 in England's first innings, has been named as his successor.

Smith's masterclass

Smith, just 22, scored 277 in South Africa's first innings, the highest Test score by a South African. He and Herschelle Gibbs, who made 179, put on 338 for the first wicket, tearing into England's bowlers on the opening day.

Smith batted for more than nine hours, hitting 35 fours, and dominated the England attack. He followed up with a quick 85 in the second innings, giving him 362 runs in the match.

His innings was one of the finest seen at Edgbaston, and marked him out as one of the brightest young players in the game. He only became South Africa's captain earlier this year.

England fight back

England responded well, with Vaughan's century leading them to a respectable first-innings total. Rain affected parts of the match, and the game petered out into a draw on the final day.

The result means the five-match series is level going into the second Test at Lord's later this week.

Hussain steps down

Hussain's resignation came as a surprise. The 35-year-old has captained England since 1999, and is widely credited with turning the team from one of the weakest in the world into a side capable of beating most opponents.

Under his leadership, England won series in Pakistan and Sri Lanka and at home against the West Indies, ending a long run without success against them. He has been praised for his determination, his tactical skill and his willingness to back young players.

But he admitted that he no longer felt he was the right person to lead the side. Vaughan had captained England in the one-day series earlier this summer, and Hussain said he felt the team was starting to respond to a different leader.

He will continue to play as a batsman, and is expected to be in the side for the Lord's Test.

A new era

Vaughan, 28, is one of the best batsmen in the world. He scored three centuries in the Ashes series in Australia last winter, and has been in outstanding form.

He takes over at a difficult time, with a strong South African side eager to win the series. His first task will be to lift the team after a disappointing performance with the ball at Edgbaston.

Edgbaston's big stage

The Test was another memorable occasion for Edgbaston, which has hosted many of England's most famous matches. Crowds were good throughout, despite the weather, and the ground's atmosphere was again praised by players on both sides.

For Birmingham cricket fans, it was a chance to witness one of the great innings in Test history, and to see the end of an era for the England captaincy.