England captain Alastair Cook should refrain from stepping down until after the tour to South Africa this winter, according to Michael Vaughan.

Reports have suggested that Cook could walk away from the role after the current Ashes series draws to a close later this month, but Vaughan, who led the side between 2003 and 2008, claims that stepping down in the winter is a better move.

He told The Telegraph: "He has earned the right to decide. There is a massive series in South Africa this winter. England have not won in South Africa since 2004. So we should not just look at the end of an Ashes series and say that is the moment where things must always change.

"Let's look at that South Africa series and maybe that would be a better time to move away. These days winning against South Africa is as big as beating Australia. They are a brilliant cricket team."

England have failed to win their last three Test series against the Proteas.