Gary Kirsten ideal candidate to coach England: Michael Atherton

Former South Africa batsman GaryKirstenwould be the perfectcandidateto replace Trevor Bayliss asEnglandcoachand the country's cricket board should not hesitate to make another overseas appointment, former captain MichaelAthertonsaid.

British media reported that former IndiacoachKirstenhas emerged as the leading contender to take over from Australia's Bayliss, who departed after the Ashes series against Australia following their maiden 50-over World Cup triumph earlier this year.

Athertonsaid that the 51-year-old's experience of guiding India to the 2011 World Cup title andcoaching South Africa to the top of the test rankings a year later had given him the advantage over Englishcandidates for the role.

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"It's dangerous to fall into the trap of thinking a foreign accent makes you a bettercandidate, but no Englishcoachhas such an impressive CV asKirsten's," former openerAthertonwrote in the Times newspaper.

If appointed,Kirstenwould be only the fourth foreigner tocoachEnglandin a list that also includes Zimbabweans Duncan Flecther and Andy Flower.

"Nationality is immaterial; skills as communicators, man-managers, and expertise in technique are all important... they (coaches) are facilitators, teachers, and enablers, trying to help to improve the lives and careers of players," he said.

"He (Kirsten) would make a fine choice. There are those who will frown upon another overseas appointment... I'm not of that number."

AthertonsaidKirsten's immediate focus would be to provide the structure needed to improve fourth-rankedEngland's standing in test cricket.

"The one-day team is in good shape and runs itself under Eoin Morgan, while the test team is in need of some tender loving care,"Athertonadded.

"The captain, Joe Root, isin need of acoachto apply greater structure than the free-wheeling Bayliss was apt to do. South Africans love a bit of structure."

Kirsten's former South Africa teammate Lance Klusener, who was named Afghanistan headcoachlast week, echoedAtherton's views.

"He brings winning, so that for me is vitally important," Klusener told the BBC.

"He's one of those guys that when he does stand up and speak, people tend to listen, and he's had that ability since I used to play with him."