MICHAEL VAUGHAN believes captain Andrew Strauss should be rested for the tour of Bangladesh to give England the best possible chance of retaining the Ashes in Australia.

Strauss flew out with his squad at the weekend for a tough tour of South Africa which follows hot on the heels of a gruelling summer schedule, which included a World Twenty20 tournament and the Champions Trophy on top of England’s Ashes victory.

After two 20-over and five 50-over internationals against the Proteas, as well as four Tests, England move next onto Bangladesh before another busy summer leads up to a trip to Australia.

And Vaughan, who skippered England to Ashes glory in 2005, believes Strauss must take time away himself to ensure he is mentally ready for the challenges ahead.

“I think he should,” Vaughan said.

“You’ve got to look at the bigger picture.

“The guys are playing far too much. It’s not the actual playing side; it’s the mental side of being away and constantly being in a cricket environment.

“So just taking Straussy out for a three-week break will regenerate his energy levels going into next summer and we have to have all our players fit and firing for next winter which is the big one – the Ashes.”

Another issue at stake is the captaincy succession.

Opener Alastair Cook is now the official vice-captain and logic would dictate that he would stand in for the Bangladesh tour should Strauss be absent.

But Vaughan believes that, with the 24-year-old having struggled for form this year, the decision is not as straightforward as it may seem.