Andrew Strauss has questioned Ben Stokes' decision to announce his retirement from international cricket during the decisive Test against New Zealand, insisting the timing risked overshadowing England's attempt to save the series.
The former England captain admitted Stokes had earned the right to leave the game on his own terms after a glittering career.
However, Strauss believes revealing the news while the match was still in progress created an unnecessary distraction at a pivotal moment.
Speaking after England's defeat at Trent Bridge, Strauss said: "Everyone has the right to bow out on their own terms, and no-one has earned that more than Ben, but announcing before or after the game seems like a more sensible approach.
"When you are in the middle of a match, the only thing that matters is the performance of the team."
Stokes stunned the cricketing world when he informed his teammates of his decision on the morning of Day Four before the news was released publicly later that afternoon.
The announcement immediately changed the atmosphere inside Trent Bridge.
Andrew Strauss has questioned Ben Stokes' decision to announce his retirement from international cricket during the decisive Test against New Zealand, insisting the timing risked overshadowing England's attempt to save the series
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Supporters rose to applaud their captain as he returned to bowl, with Stokes producing a fairytale moment by claiming a wicket with his very next delivery.
But Strauss believes the emotion surrounding the occasion came at the wrong time.
With the three-match series locked at 1-1 and England desperately trying to avoid defeat, the 48-year-old felt attention drifted away from the task at hand.
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Ben Stokes has walked away from international cricket following England's 2-1 series defeat to New Zealand | PA"I'm not convinced that the whole thing was orchestrated the right way yesterday," Strauss said.
"It seems like a huge distraction to a team that was battling to avoid a series defeat, and the cricket in the last session very much had an 'end of term' feel to it."
England's performance reflected the emotional occasion.
Stokes threw everything into one final attempt to inspire his side, delivering an exhausting 11-over spell before promoting himself to open the batting in pursuit of an unlikely target of 314.
His approach was characteristically fearless, swinging aggressively from the outset as England remained committed to the attacking philosophy that has defined the Bazball era.
However, the gamble failed to produce one last remarkable escape.
Ben Stokes will go down as a England cricket legend | GETTYStokes' final innings ended with a rapid 30 from just 20 balls before England eventually fell well short of their target, slipping to defeat and losing the series.
The circumstances inevitably drew comparisons with Stuart Broad's emotional farewell during the final Ashes Test in 2023.
Broad also announced his retirement during a live Test match before producing a dream ending, dismissing the final Australian batter with the last ball of his career as England levelled the series.
Stokes was denied such a Hollywood finish.
Instead, his remarkable England career ended amid defeat and questions over whether his retirement announcement should have waited until the final ball had been bowled.