Kevin Pietersen urges Andrew Strauss to win back the public after a 'treacherous 15 months' for England

Strauss is the favourite to be appointed to the new role of director of cricket at the ECB

Sacked batsman Kevin Pietersen says that the new director of cricket has some ‘huge decisions’ to make (Getty Images)

Kevin Pietersen is handing out some typically forthright advice to Andrew Strauss, even before his former captain has been appointed to the new role of director of cricket at the England and Wales Cricket Board.

The sacked batsman, who is trying to earn a recall to the national side for this summer’s Ashes, has told the website Breathesport: “I hope Strauss & ECB bring the public back to the team after a treacherous 15 months.” He added: “They owe it to the fans! He has some HUGE decisions. Hope he gets them right...”

Strauss is now the favourite for the post, which was created when the national team’s managing director, Paul Downton, was sacked last month. Former England captain Michael Vaughan pulled out of the running on Tuesday because of the “limitations” of the role.

It was reported that Strauss will be absent from the Sky Sports commentary box for England’s one-day international against Ireland in Dublin, potentially in preparation for his appointment to the England hierarchy by the weekend.

Pietersen’s use of the word “treacherous” might be deemed unfortunate as well as mysterious in meaning. Pietersen and Strauss were embroiled in the “textgate” scandal during the 2012 season when the South African-born batsman sent derogatory texts about Strauss’s captaincy to the South African team during the home Test series. Pietersen was subsequently dropped for the final match of the series and had to “reintegrate” himself in the England dressing room.

Last year Strauss described Pietersen as a “cunt” live on air, while last month he said he did not think there was any way back into the England fold for the 34-year-old “because there are too many bridges to build in too short a period of time”.