Who will captain England with Colly banned for four games?

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Having taken over captaincy duties, albeit very briefly, when Collingwood left the field earlier this series, Pietersen appears to be in poll position.

He is a senior player, has admitted he would be happy to lead the team in the past and has the ability to lead by example with some match-winning efforts with the bat.

He is fiercely competitive and would welcome the chance of continuing in the role against his great rival Graeme Smith in the forthcoming series against South Africa, the country of his birth.

Against him are a perceived lack of team ethic - no bad thing in a batsman but a bigger deficiency when considering captaincy - and a wish not to overburden their star batsman.

Candidate: Pietersen

Favourite: Strauss

Quiet: Bell

ANDREW STRAUSS

A real candidate for the honour when Collingwood was named as Michael Vaughan's successor, his star has since faded somewhat and he was dropped for the first time in his England career over the winter.

He has since come back in some style in the Test arena but has not appeared in the 50-over format since April 2007. Nevertheless, he is in the squad as back-up and any ban for Collingwood would open up a spot in the side.

Perhaps seen as a more natural captaincy option than Pietersen but may be asked to focus on regaining his own form.

IAN BELL

Not an overtly demonstrative player, nor one apparently suited to the intense spotlight the armband brings with it. Nevertheless, coach Peter Moores has conspicuously talked up the 26-year-old's aptitude on previous occasions.

He is a gutsy character and if his improved stature at the crease has filtered through to the dressing room, he could be an outsider for the job.