Former England cricketer Derek Pringle believes that former Australian head coach Justin Langer is far from an ideal option to take over the England head coach position.
The England & Wales Cricket Board has been on the lookout for a new head coach of the men's team since the sacking of Chris Silverwood in the wake of the Ashes humiliation Down Under this past winter.
Langer, meanwhile, resigned from the post of the Australian men's head coach following the Ashes, citing a lack of support from senior players and management.
Despite his stellar record as a coach, Langer's intense approach didn't go down well with the senior players.
Following his resignation, Test captain Pat Cummins said a "collaborative approach" for the benefit of players was the need of the hour, and that's what they conveyed to Cricket Australia in their feedback of Langer - the coach.
"I think the players benefit from a more collaborative approach. So this summer, a big theme was to be more calm, more composed," Cummins had said. "That's been the feedback from the players, staff and Cricket Australia that that's the direction we want to take the team," he added.
Langer's name has been talked up by several former England captains like Nasser Hussain and Michael Vaughan, both of whom feel that the gritty cricketer is the best fit for the English system at the moment.
However, Pringle believes that Langer, given his intense approach, will not be a right fit for the England system.
Instead, he believes that former South African cricketer and the World Cup-winning former Indian coach Gary Kirsten is an ideal man for the job.
"There was a time when English cricket slavishly sought Australian know-how, but I'm not sure the desire has endured. Which is why I think Justin Langer, tipped by some to be the next England head coach, is unlikely to get that job," wrote Pringle in his column for the Metro.
"Langer was a fine, gutsy player, but if the current Aussie team felt his coaching style too intense, he will not be a good fit for England, despite calls from some that they need tough love. Modern players just don't respond to old-school rigour with its (often shouted) one-way conversations, especially when things go wrong," he added.
"They demand a relationship with their coach based on mutual respect and clear, calm advice. They are high maintenance, and the best coaches like Gary Kirsten, another linked with the England job, realise that and work with it, applying just the right amount of firm touch," he said.
Paul Collingwood led England in his capacity as head coach during the recent tour of the West Indies, but following a 0-1 reversal, it is increasingly unlikely that he will get a full-time stint.
The English home summer will start with a Test series against New Zealand in June, and it will be interesting to see who the ECB chooses to spearhead the Joe Root-led unit.