Nasser Hussain resigned as England's one-day captain in Port Elizabeth today following the team's first round exit from the World Cup.
Hussain, who said he intended to take a two-month break from all cricket and wanted to carry on as Test captain, told reporters: "I have twisted and turned.
"I firmly believe that England are a better side with me as captain. But I also believe it's time for someone else to come in and be looked at as a future England captain."
Zimbabwe's washed out pool A match against Pakistan in Bulawayo saw England and the Asian giants go out of the World Cup.
And Hussain, speaking in Port Elizabeth where England lost their final World Cup group A match against Australia on Sunday, said now was the right time to step down from the one-day captaincy.
"I'm not going to do a Shane Warne and read out something on a piece of paper. I've always spoken from the heart. I believe the time has come to step down as England one-day captain.
"I reiterate that's just for one-day cricket. I am firmly 100 percent dedicated to the Test match side of the game and I would like to carry on as England Test match captain.
"The bottom line is that I'm 35 this month and there must be people out there who can average more than 30 and get a better strike rate than 67," said Hussain referring to his modest one-day international record.
Hussain had looked increasingly worn down by the crisis over England's controversial boycott of its World Cup match in Harare - a decision which saw Zimbabwe collect four points for victory by forfeit.
"I'm mentally and physically drained after this winter," said Hussain, also in charge for England's pre-World Cup thrashing in Australia.
"I intend to take two months completely off from the game. It's been difficult but everyone in life has difficult things. That's part of the learning curve."