The 35-year-old Swede has played in the event five times, and was a member of the winning team at Dalmahoy in 1992 and at Loch Lomond two years ago.

England's Alison Nicholas will act as Nilsmark's deputy

"I am a little bit surprised, but delighted," said Nilsmark, who has won twice on the Evian Tour and once on the LPGA circuit.

"I did wonder if I would still want to try to qualify to play in the match.

"But then I thought that I'd played five times and been in two winning teams. So what could be better than becoming captain?"

The biennial event has been brought forward to 2003 to avoid clashing with Olympic and World Cup years in the future.