The writer claimed that during England's tour of India, he asked two players who they thought the best coach in England and "they uttered an unequivocal answer Kent's Graham Ford."

"It was merely interesting at the time. But now that conversation makes more sense. Maybe there were already rumblings," he said.

Ford has been a mentor to Pietersen who knew the South African in Pietermaritzburg and calls him whenever he needs technical advice.

Meanwhile, another report in the same daily claimed Ashley Giles might step in as the stand-in coach in the West Indies.

"Assuming that (Hugh) Morris cannot reconcile England's captain and coach, the idea is gaining ground that Ashley Giles should take the team to the Caribbean as the temporary or emergency coach.

"An Ashes winner, England selector, a member of the last England team to win in the West Indies, and someone who has had a lengthy playing relationship with Pietersen, Giles has almost everything except the experience of coaching, limited as he has been to one season in charge of Warwickshire," it said.