Former England cricketer Angus Fraser has said the England cricket team is “stuck between a rock and a hard place” after Ben Stokes announced his retirement.

Speaking on GB News he said: “I thought everybody was lucky to survive after the winter, that’s for sure.

“I suppose it’s tempting to get rid of anybody, but then you’re starting from scratch; is that the right way forward?

“I think we should think about it before we make that sort of decision, but I think the microscope will definitely be pointed on them more fiercely than it was even after a dreadful Ashes series.

“I think we’ve got to realise New Zealand are quite a decent side too, and they are allowed to play well, but England have underperformed, there do seem to be issues now.

“I suppose you have a method of playing, you commit to that and when that doesn’t work out, where do you go and are you then playing with the same commitment, the same belief as you were in the first place if you’re not following your initial instincts.

“So I think that’s probably the bigger question, certainly for Brendon McCullum, who’s in charge at this moment in time, is can he slightly reinvent himself because he’s coming on the sort of the Bazball aggressive, positive, fearless cricket badge that’s not worked against the best sides.

“If you’re not sort of playing your A game or the game that you sort of truly believe in, do people follow you with the same sort of belief as they do before?

“England maybe stuck between a hard rock and a hard place at this moment in time.

“If there was an outstanding captain out there, I think we’d be talking about them as the potential replacement for Ben Stokes.

“I mean it’s one of the reasons why Ben Stokes has been a good captain. Is he one of England’s all-time greats? Question mark.

“But certainly England are a far more attractive side than they’ve been for a long time, to watch.

“Yes, they’ve lost some Tests recently, but they’ve brought success too.

“But there isn’t a figure out there who is brilliant. I mean, that’s why Bob Willis was so special, because they don’t come along very often.

“Someone who can galvanize a side can, I suppose, bring all the characters together, and again, some difficult characters there.

“Stokes has led this side by example. He’s pulled a group of people together, they’ve played a style of cricket.

“Yes, it’s worked brilliantly on a number of occasions, and sadly it’s been found wanting against the best sides, which is why I suppose we’re back to the drawing board and questioning the way forward now.”