Andrew Strauss says it's not down to him whether Justin Langer should be invited to become the next England cricket coach.
Interim managing director of men's cricket Strauss has previously said that his old teammate and friend Langer, who resigned as Australia's head coach last weekend, should not be ruled out to replace Chris Silverwood in the equivalent England role.
But on Wednesday, former England captain Strauss was keen to make it clear that his job over the next few months was to appoint Ashley Giles' long-term successor in the managing director role, not to lead the hunt for the new head coach.
"That's not my decision," Strauss said, when asked about the possible pursuit of Langer.
"I have to help the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) recruit the director of cricket and they will be thinking about the candidates for the coaching position."
Strauss, though, did offer a vote of confidence in Paul Collingwood as the sort of coach to lead the rebuilding of England's red ball fortunes in the short term following the clear-out of key personnel over the past week.
Three key members of staff - Silverwood, Giles and batting coach Graham Thorpe - have lost their jobs, while eight players, including James Anderson and Stuart Broad, have been dropped for next month's tour of the West Indies amid the fall-out from the Ashes' hammering.
Collingwood, announced as the interim replacement for Silverwood on Monday, is thought to have a good chance to take the reins of England's white ball fortunes and Strauss has also backed him as a future red ball coach.
"Paul obviously deputised for Chris Silverwood out in the West Indies with the T20 team and had done a very good job out there by all accounts," said Strauss.
"He is definitely one we should have an eye on moving forward for a head coach role.
"It's an opportunity for him to understand what that job entails and to start this process with the red-ball reset as well. He's the right sort of character to do that.
"He's enthusiastic, he's got bundles of energy and is very clear on how he sees the England Test team playing, so it's a great opportunity for him."
The idea of Langer being appointed, though, has received plenty of support from other English cricket luminaries, with former captains Michael Vaughan and Nasser Hussain both backing the possibility.
"Langer would be very good for two reasons," Hussain told Sky Sports News. "He has just played against England, so knows exactly where their strengths and weakness lie, as he's literally been there and seen it.
"He's also the type of character England need at the moment. They do need that micro-management and they do need that kick up the backside. They're not performing, and they've got to get results going, so Langer would be a good candidate."
With PA
