Stewart and Strauss back Hussain

Two generations of Test cricketers have urged Nasser Hussain not to retire before his time. Alec Stewart, who retired last summer, and Andrew Strauss, who made his debut against New Zealand at Lord's last week, have both spoken out, after Hussain hinted to the media that he might call it quits, in the aftermath of his matchwinning century at Lord's on Monday.

"This has really surprised me," Stewart told the Evening Standard. "I hope he carries on and I would be amazed if anyone he spoke to told him to call it a day now. It may have been at the back of his mind that if he was successful in this match he could go out on a high and be remembered for a fantastic innings, but I would be surprised if in 48 hours he decides to retire."

"Nasser is a born fighter and he showed it again at Lord's," added Stewart, who made his debut in the same match as Hussain, against West Indies in Jamaica in 1990. "He's been a great servant for England and hopefully, if his form continues, he will make it to that 100 mark. I personally hope he carries on and I think, in the cold light of day, he wants those 100 Test caps."

Strauss, England's Man of the Match, told BBC Radio Five Live: "I could see why he would be tempted to bow out on such a high, but the England team would be worse without him. Time and time again when we have needed someone to do something special he has come up and done it for us."

"I don't think it is a competition between me and Nasser," he added. "Selectors do the selecting, that's their job, and it is not right to speculate on what will happen."