Could Ian Bell be a potential candidate to take over the reins? Looking at the established players in the English team, I can't see them going back to KP, maybe Broad or Anderson could be other options?
By a process of elimination of senior players:
Cook - current Captain, tactically hopeless. Has to go in my opinion.
KP - too much previous to be given a 2nd stint.
Bell - potential. Done it at under 19 level but little experience of captaincy after that.
Prior - potential. Was vice captain before being dropped. Captains traditionally need to get in the side though.
Broad - potential. T20 captain, was probably appointed with future test captaincy in mind. His toys come out of the pram too easily at times which could be a problem.
Anderson - never captained before and is a self admitted grumpy so and so - can't see him as skipper.