Andrew Strauss has urged England cricket chiefs to speed up their search for a new coach with the start of the international summer just one month away.

The First Test against West Indies at Lord's begins on 6 May, yet the England and Wales Cricket Board have still to finalise who will take charge of the team for the two-match series, as well as for the World Twenty20 and the Ashes later in the summer.

Interim coach Andy Flower took charge of the team during the recent tour of the West Indies and remains a strong favourite for the job, especially as the Zimbabwean has the support of England captain Strauss.

South Africa coach Mickey Arthur is also a contender for the position, with interviews due to begin imminently. The post must be filled by 1 May, when the initial 30-man squad for the World Twenty20 will be trimmed to 15.

Strauss said: “The sooner it is done, the better. They are going through the process. Clarity is important, and we have to be able to get someone in to do a pretty big job.

“I have had no involvement in the process apart from giving my thoughts on Andy Flower. He did an excellent job in the West Indies, and we could work together, but there will be other people who are just as qualified to do the job.

“I do not know who the other candidates are. The sooner it is announced, the better. I could work very well with Andy Flower.”

Strauss was in excellent form in the 3-2 one-day series win over West Indies but was left out of the 30-man party for the World Twenty20 in June because he told selectors he is not capable of the blistering hitting necessary to succeed in the shortest form of cricket.

Strauss said: “I do not believe I am in the best England XI for Twenty20, therefore it would be wrong for me to captain the side. It was a mutual decision.

“The feeling has come from how I have played Twenty20, and from viewing the others who play the game. I am very confident in my ability in Test and one-day cricket, but perhaps you need another kind of player for Twenty20.

“The power aspect of Twenty20 is important, and it is not one of my strengths. I was pretty honest with the selectors, as they have been with me. It will help my individual preparation if I concentrate on the five-day stuff.”

Rob Key is among the candidates to lead England during the competition, and Strauss indicated he would favour the appointment of the Kent skipper.

“There are plenty of options,” he said. “There are some guys outside the squad like Rob Key, and the rumours you hear on the county circuit suggest Rob has done a pretty good job.

“He is a good operator, and definitely one of the names on the list.”

Strauss also refused to rule out Kevin Pietersen, although England's star batsman has already said he would not take the job were it offered.

Speaking at the ECB's “Great Exhibition” at Lord's to launch the cricketing summer, Strauss added: “Kevin is a massive player for us, and hopefully he will have a huge effect on what happens this summer. If he were offered the post, Kevin would have to decide how keen he was to come back as captain.”

West Indies, meanwhile, have dropped bowler Daren Powel and all-rounder Ryan Hinds from their squad to tour England, but have called up three uncapped players in paceman Nelon Pascal, seamer Andrew Richardson and opener Dale Richards.