Sir Ian Botham believes Andrew Strauss and England have made a 'major mistake' in deciding to rest the captain for the ongoing tour of Bangladesh.
Strauss is missing from two Test matches, the first set to start in Chittagong on Friday, and has already missed a three-match one-day international series.
The opening batsman will also take no part in the ICC World Twenty20 in the Caribbean in April and May, because he has already called time on his career in that format.
He will therefore not return to England colours until late May, after a four-month break in which Alastair Cook has stood in as captain - with Paul Collingwood in charge in any case for Twenty20s.
The intention is that the rest will ensure 33-year-old Strauss is ready for a long haul which will take England through summer series against Bangladesh, Australia and Pakistan and will culminate with an Ashes and World Cup winter in 2010-11.
Botham fears, however, that the plan could backfire.
"Andrew Strauss should be with the England side," said one of England's most famous former captains and the greatest all-rounder in his country's history.
"He can't be exhausted with his batting - he only averaged 24 in [the winter Test tour of] South Africa.
"He has been captain for just a year - and with the Ashes round the corner, he should be with the team."
Botham, who was speaking ahead of Thursday's Laureus World Sports Awards, was bemused when he heard of the mutual decision by Strauss and the selectors to take time out.
"I was amazed he chose to take this time off - I was surprised he was given it," he said.
"As captain, you need to be there with your team. I think it's a major mistake and I think people will remember this for a long time.
"I don't understand it.
"It's not as if England have won their last three series and he's scoring 100s left, right and centre - he's not.
"The captain should be on board the ship - he's got to live with it."