Kevin Pietersen has backed Rob Key to become the ECB’s managing director of England men’s cricket, describing him as “perfect” for the job.

Key, a former Kent captain and Test cricketer, has emerged as a frontrunner for the role, vacant since Ashley Giles’ departure following England’s 4-0 Ashes defeat. Key has forged a reputation as a respected and well-liked pundit on Sky Sports’ cricket coverage, and with other contenders Alec Stewart and Marcus North having ruled themselves out of the running, he is expected to take up the ECB job.

Pietersen, writing for BetWay, has backed Key to take over, with his “very good cricketing brain” marking him out as a suitable candidate.

“They are looking for a managing director to reset English cricket, and I think that Rob Key, who has been linked with the role, would be perfect for it,” Pietersen said. “Knowing him as I do, particularly from sitting around the commentary box with him, he has a very good cricketing brain and deals with people very well. He understands situations and I think he would be a very smart operator.”

Pietersen has made clear his views on what needs to change in the English game, advocating for an eight-team franchise-style first-class competition to be played at the height of the summer. He backed Key to “make the big decisions” necessary regarding the structure of the game.

“Everybody knows my views on the structure of English cricket and how it needs to change,” he said. “I believe Rob Key would be willing to make the big decisions and has a clear idea of what cricket should look like in this country. The structure is what needs to change.”

Two items in the in-tray of the ECB’s new managing director of England men’s cricket will be who to employ as head coach and who to appoint as Joe Root’s successor as Test captain, embattled after a run of one victory in 17 Tests. Pietersen, however, felt that the identities of those directly in charge of the England team would matter little if other changes were not made.

“I don’t care who the captain is, I don’t care who the coach is,” he said. “Nobody would do better than Joe Root or Paul Collingwood with this crop of players. The reset needs to start at the ECB offices, not on the cricket field.”