Andrew Strauss has been appointed as England captain for next week's first Test against Pakistan at Lord's.
But the selectors have confirmed it is a temporary assignment and he will keep the job only until Andrew Flintoff is fit to return to international cricket.
Strauss will be the first Middlesex player since John Emburey in 1988 to lead England in a Test match.
And he will be hoping for a change of luck win after a 5-0 defeat as captain in the one-dayers against Sri Lanka.
The nomination of Flintoff as first-choice captain, however, suggests he will be the man to lead England in the Ashes series against Australia this winter if regular skipper Michael Vaughan fails to recover from knee surgery in time.
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Strauss had no complaints about the situation, saying: "I fully respect the decision the selectors have taken and will be happy to play under Andrew's captaincy.
"He proved to be an inspirational captain in the Test Series in India and everyone in the dressing room is hoping that he can make a speedy return to the side."
He added: "It will be a great honour to captain England in a Test Match for the first time and to lead the team out at Lord's will be a special moment for me."
Strauss will find out which players he will be leading in the opening Test when the rest of the squad is announced on Sunday.
Chairman of selectors David Graveney described him as a "very capable deputy" for Flintoff, who is recovering from an ankle problem.
"Andrew Flintoff will have his ankle re-assessed in the next few days and we will have a clearer idea then of when he will be able to return to the team and take over the captaincy," he added.
Strauss will be the third South African-born player to skipper the team in a Test following Tony Greig (14 Tests between 1975 and 1977) and Allan Lamb (three Tests between 1989 and 1991), but unlike them he was brought up and educated in England.
He also has an excellent record as a batsman at Lord's, his home ground, having made 523 runs in five Tests, including two centuries and two fifties, at an average of 65.