Former England captain Mike Atherton says South African-born batsman Kevin Pietersen should replace Michael Vaughan as England’s Test captain.
With Vaughan today quitting as Test captain after overseeing his third straight series defeat, and Paul Collingwood standing aside as one-day captain, Atherton says England’s selectors are looking for someone to lead in both forms of the game.
Former skippers Andrew Strauss and Andrew Flintoff are among the favourites for the post, but Atherton believes Pietersen is the right man for the job.
"If you're talking about someone to take on both jobs then Kevin Pietersen becomes the number one candidate because he's one of the few people who can be guaranteed their place in both teams," Atherton told Sky Sports News.
Atherton believed Collingwood was asked to step aside, following a controversial incident in a recent series against New Zealand that put his captaincy into question.
"Michael Vaughan's decision is his own decision, but I can't believe that Paul Collingwood made that decision off his own back," Atherton said.
"Clearly they want to unite the job and get one bloke in there, and they've given Paul a gentle nudge to say that this is in the best interests of the team."
Atherton said Vaughan had been a great captain for England.
"He's been a wonderfully successful captain, England's most successful in terms of Test match wins, and is surely one of England's greatest ever captains.
"In terms of playing, captaining, leading, decision-making, Michael Vaughan is the best man for the job."
He added: "I know what he's been going through.
"It's a wonderful job but it's also a job that becomes all-consuming. He said he's not been himself at home and wanted to 'get back to being me'.
"The job gets on top of you. It's a great job but you're thinking about it all the time.
"When you're supposed to be at dinner with friends or the wife, you're thinking about who should be opening the bowling the next day and how to tell your mate he's not in the next team.
"That pressure eventually bears down on you and if you're not getting runs as well then it becomes very difficult."
