Botham is worried that with Hussain 36, Graham Thorpe 35 in August and Surrey teammate Mark Butcher 32 the same month, England will be confronted by several retirements from their middle order in quick succession unless they take action now to blood a younger player.

And legendary all-rounder Botham told BBC Radio Five that former captain Hussain should be the one to make way for the likes of either Middlesex left-hander Andrew Strauss or Durham all-rounder Paul Collingwood.

"Despite everything he (Hussain) has done for us, I think it's time now for a Strauss, a Collingwood or whoever to come in to that middle order," Botham said.

"Because it's much easier for someone to come in and settle down when he's got players like Thorpe and Butcher around.