Jason Gillespie will accept the job as England’s new cricket coach if he is offered the position, if reports in England are to be believed.

Gillespie had a positive meeting with director of cricket Andrew Strauss on Thursday, where The Telegraph reports Strauss persuaded the Australian to replace Peter Moores.

Though no formal offer has reportedly been made yet, Yorkshire have started to search for a new coach midway through the county season.

The Adelaide Observer, Gillespie’s home-town newspaper, reported that Strauss would make a formal announcement on Tuesday.

Strauss promised on Thursday that the new coach won’t be made a ‘whipping boy’.

Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden recently suggested anyone succeeding the sacked Peter Moores would be the ‘target’ for an establishment kicking if things went wrong.

However, Strauss told BBC Radio’s Test Match Special on Thursday: ‘The new coach is going to be given the opportunity and space to do his job. He is not going to be a whipping boy for me or anyone else.’

Strauss revealed he is talking to ‘a number of candidates’ about the position when interviewed by BBC and Sky during the lunch break of the first Test against New Zealand but quickly left Lord’s in the afternoon to meet with Gillespie.

Strauss said he will appoint someone who shares his cricketing philosophy and if he was impressed with Gillespie then a deal could be done quickly.

The Ashes series starts on July 8 and Strauss has admitted he would ideally like his coaching team in place in time to plot winning back the urn.

Gillespie had reportedly been concerned over the scope of the coach’s role after Strauss made a number of key decisions on his first day in the job as director of cricket last week.

He retained Alastair Cook as Test captain, Eoin Morgan in charge of the one-day side and in effect sacked Kevin Pietersen for the second time.

Gillespie said earlier this week he would ‘take some persuading’ to leave Yorkshire but has been assured by Strauss he will have full control over the team and the power to make changes as he sees fit.