OPENER Navjot Sidhu stunned the Indian cricket team by deciding to quit their tour of England yesterday. Sidhu announced his immediate retirement from international cricket because of a fall out with the Indian management. He is believed to be especially angry about his treatment by captain Mohammad Azharuddin.

The decision came on a day when England's cavalier newcomer Alistair Brown struck a superb 118 at Old Trafford to help his team wrap up a 2-0 series triumph against the Indians.

Victory in the final one day international, which resumed after Sunday's rain, came by four wickets with seven balls to spare.

Brown, who struck two sixes and 10 fours in his 137 ball innings, was joined in stands of 85, 69 and 31 by Graeme Hick, Graham Thorpe and Matthew Maynard respectively.

The Surrey one day specialist reached 50 with a six off Venkat Raju and celebrated achieving three figures in only his third international appearance with another huge blow off the same bowler.

Sidhu, a 32 year old Sikh who averages 40.13 from his 36 tests, was dropped for this game. He made three in the rain hit first one dayer at The Oval last Thursday and 20 in the second game at Headingly on Saturday when England won by six wickets.

Sandeep Patil, the Indian team manager, said he was making strenuous efforts to get Sidhu to reconsider.

Patil said "I am surprised that he has decided to retire, but we are not forwarding his retirement letter to the Indian Cricket Board until we have had a chance to sit down with him tonight when we reach Chelmsford (for their next match against Essex).

"I'm sad because he has a lot of cricket left in him. He's a quiet guy who is well regarded. I can't comment about his relationship with the captain. We also need him more now because we are not performing particularly well".

"My dignity would be compromised if I carried on with this Indian team."