Finally with something to smile about after their team's 103-run victory over South Africa in the third Test in Sydney, Australians could be forgiven for laughing out loud as their traditional foes shot themselves in the foot.

England were just being talked up as favourites to regain the Ashes on home soil later this year after Australia went 2-0 down against the Proteas.

Then they imploded as Kevin Pietersen quit as captain and Peter Moores was sacked as coach following a very public spat between the two men.

Andrew Strauss has stepped in as skipper before England fly out on January 21 for a Test and one-day tour of the West Indies, which Pietersen has made himself available for as a player.

But a coaching structure is yet to be announced - in the interim and the long term - just six months before the Ashes series starts.

Former England captain Graham Gooch said whoever took charge would have to be of strong character to deal with the damage that has been done.

"I'm in a bit of shock," Gooch told the BBC.

"I thought one of them would go because the pair didn't get on and see eye-to-eye.

"I'm surprised both of them have gone, but what really worries me is what's going on in the dressing room. There are obviously factions - some in the Pietersen camp and some not.

"That's not the sort of harmony you want just before a big series in the West Indies and, of course, the Ashes."

Gooch had earlier suggested Australian great Shane Warne's belief that top-level players do not need coaching may have influenced good friend and Hampshire teammate Pietersen.

The South African-born batsman is widely reported to disapprove of Moores' approach to training and selection.

Gooch told BBC Radio's 5 Live on Monday: "Unfortunately I think he (Pietersen) has been influenced a little bit by Shane Warne at Hampshire.

"Warne was a great motivator as a player but, as one of the all-time icons of the game and after leading the Rajasthan Royals to the Indian Premier League title last year, he doesn't really believe in coaching."

Another ex-England captain, Alec Stewart, criticised the way the Pietersen-Moores conflict had played out in the media.

"It should have been kept very private," Stewart told the BBC.

"In all walks of life there are always issues and grievances, not everyone gets on well.

"You've got to strike up a working relationship, be big enough and ugly enough to front up to these situations and make sure you get them resolved properly."

Another former England skipper, Nasser Hussain, agreed and was particularly critical of Pietersen's decision to remain on holiday in Africa while the saga unfolded.

"It's something that could have been avoided if people had gone about it the right way," Hussain told Sky Sports News.

"Kevin Pietersen should have gone about this in a much more professional way.

"You can't just sit on safari in South Africa and issue ultimatums to the board about the England cricket captaincy, it's far too important for that.

"You get off your backside, you come to England and you sit down with your bosses and you decide and discuss what is the best way to progress, and what has happened in the last week is very, very poor indeed from a lot of people."

Pietersen was due to arrive back in England on Thursday, exactly six months before the first Ashes Test in Cardiff, Wales.

Just how effectively he puts the controversy behind him and settles into his other job as England's star player in an unsettled team will be crucial to their success this month and, more importantly, later this year.