London: Kevin Pietersen has said Andrew Strauss must restore public confidence after a "treacherous 15 months" should the former captain be appointed as English cricket's new supremo.

Strauss appears to be the front-runner to fill the new position of England director of cricket, a post created by the England and Wales Cricket Board last month following Paul Downton's sacking as managing director.

Pietersen, the retired Strauss's predecessor as England captain, was briefly barred from the side after text messages critical of his then skipper emerged during the 2012 home series with South Africa. Pietersen returned to England duty later that year but the star batsman has been in international exile since the team returned from their 5-0 Ashes thrashing in Australia last year.