Australia captain Ricky Ponting has paid a handsome tribute to Nasser Hussain after the Englishman's decision to stand down as his country's one-day captain.

"I think he has done a good job for England as captain in both forms of the game during a difficult period," Ponting told reporters.

"He has been under a lot of pressure but he has been a good leader and a tough player."

Hussain made his announcement in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday after the rain-ruined match between Zimbabwe and Pakistan in Bulawayo confirmed England's first-round elimination from the World Cup.

Their exit came after more disappointing one-day form, including defeat in the group stages of the Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka in September and a loss to Australia in the final of a recent tri-series event.

England have gone 14 matches without a win against Australia in one-day cricket, their latest defeat coming in Port Elizabeth on Sunday.

"The past 12 months have been pretty difficult for him and lately he has had an Ashes loss, the tri-series loss and now the World Cup exit," said Ponting.

"I suppose England now has to look ahead and more towards making things good for the future."

Hussain, who took over as England's captain in both forms of the game from Alec Stewart after England's first round exit from the 1999 World Cup, has said he is still available to lead the Test side.

British newspapers on Wednesday agreed Hussain, who had a wretched World Cup with the bat, was right to stand down.

"His feisty quality could not turn a group of worthy, but basically workmanlike cricketers into world beaters," said a report in the Daily Express.

Hussain had suggested he could quit earlier in the tournament, saying he was upset by the lack of backing from the game's administrators when the England players decided to boycott their World Cup match in Zimbabwe.