With Cook, 33, continuing to play county cricket for Essex, Smith believes he could prove a useful sounding board for selectors.

“It’ll be terrific for England cricket to tap into him as a resource,” he told BBC Radio 5 live.

“I’ve had the odd chat with him about bowlers and batters this summer. But next year, maybe we can have something a bit more formal where he comes and really advises on the players he’s been playing against.

“He’s been a captain, a player and is the leading run-scorer in history. He’s a calm, balanced and fair person – so I think we’ve got to try to tap into that knowledge and wisdom.

“It doesn’t necessarily have to be that structured – maybe someone who people know they can talk to as a trusted adviser.”

Smith also said he had been “certain” about the decision to recall Jos Buttler to the Test team, one which has been vindicated by the batsman’s runs against Pakistan and India throughout the summer.

“I really stuck my neck out to select Buttler. To me, he is one of England’s best cricketers. Everything that’s happened this summer I can honestly say is no surprise to me.

“If you ask me who are England’s best and most remarkable cricketers, he is very near the top with the likes of Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes. I had a high degree of confidence in him as a cricketer.

“Watching him for England and in the IPL, I could see he had the capacity and intelligence to adapt and learn, and he was developing at a very fast rate.

“Whatever the opposite of hit and hope is, that’s what he was doing. I felt certain – not confident, certain – that he should be in the Test team.”