Ben Stokes warned his England captaincy could be on the line ahead of ‘high stakes’ Test summer

Sir Andrew Strauss has issued a stark warning to England Test captain Ben Stokes , asserting that his batting form will be crucial to the longevity of his leadership as the team faces a "high stakes" summer.

His comments come as England prepare to resume red-ball duties against New Zealand at Lord’s on Thursday, nearly five months after a tumultuous 4-1 Ashes defeat.

While Stokes’ captaincy remained secure after a winter review, his individual batting performance has been a concern.

Despite improved bowling returns over the past 18 months, the all-rounder averaged a mere 18.40 with the bat in Australia, registering just one century across his last 46 innings.

With Stokes turning 35 on day one of the first Test, head coach Brendon McCullum has indicated a tactical shift, dropping the captain to number seven, swapping places with wicketkeeper Jamie Smith.

Sir Andrew, who captained England in 50 Tests, stressed Stokes must rediscover his run-scoring prowess to solidify his captaincy.

"It’s high stakes, but the stakes are always high and I don’t think you’d want it any other way," he told the Press Association.

He elaborated: "I know the feeling when you are coming towards the back end of your career and you’re increasingly involved in strategic decisions, trying to get the best out of your team. But you also need to focus on yourself and make sure you are still performing well."