Jason Gillespie will enter talks with the director of England cricket, Andrew Strauss, over the vacant head coach role knowing his bargaining position has grown stronger as a result of the decision by his former Australia team-mate Justin Langer to withdraw from the running.

Gillespie is due to meet Strauss this week to discuss replacing the sacked Peter Moores but went on record on Tuesday to state that he is currently very content as coach of Yorkshire and would require some serious persuasion to be prised away from Headingley.

“I’m in my dream job,” he told the BBC. “It would certainly take persuading [to leave]. It’s very humbling, very flattering [to be linked to the job]. But I haven’t had any contact and until that happens I can’t say anything.”

Such a pronouncement from the 40-year-old should come as no surprise given his position as the standout candidate in a shrinking field. The names of Trevor Bayliss and Tom Moody, two more Australians, are not carrying much traction while Strauss has previously stated that Paul Farbrace, caretaker coach for the New Zealand series, is not in his thinking and that both men agree he would be better as assistant to the long-term appointment.

Farbrace, who has worked with Gillespie at Headingley and was previously in charge of Sri Lanka, would be keen, however, if Strauss were forced into a rethink. “It would be very hard to say no to it,” he said. “I have got this chance against New Zealand and I’m going to give it a really good go. If at the end of it something happens, then great.”

Gillespie remains the frontrunner, however, and now armed with the knowledge that Langer, despite two phone calls from Strauss in the past week, has signed a new two-year deal to remain as coach of Western Australia, he will be able to state his terms with even greater authority and iron out any concerns over the role.

The former Australia fast bowler could look to address the issue of how much time is spent away from home and will push Strauss for assurances over the role’s power in light of the decisions to continue Kevin Pietersen’s exile and give long-term assurances to Alastair Cook and Eoin Morgan over their respective captaincies in Test and one-day cricket.

Away from that pressing appointment, Strauss can at least relax in the knowledge that the England players are focused on facing New Zealand in Thursday’s first Test at Lord’s, having addressed them and the backroom staff for the first time on Tuesday morning before their training session. He outlined his vision for the team and explained the rationale behind the decisions on Moores and Pietersen. The wicketkeeper Jos Buttler, a close friend of the latter, insisted any mutterings in the camp have now subsided.

“He was very open and honest about what has gone on and all the players respected that,” Buttler said. “Nothing has been kept from anyone and everyone knows the reasons why things are happening and what the plan is moving forward.

“It was great to hear from the man himself what his visions are. You read things in the press and you pick on hearsay but to sit in a room and hear him say why these decisions have been made and what the plan is moving forward gives the players clarity about what is going on.

Moores is understood to have written to the players to wish them well in their careers and state he will remain an England supporter, despite the shabby nature of his sacking 10 days ago.

Buttler, who made his Test debut under Moores last summer, hailed his former coach and claims any future success will be built on the foundations he laid.“A lot of people enjoyed working with Peter and were sad to see him go. We have to move on but what is good for the team moving forward is that some of the really good work that Peter did during his tenure as coach won’t be lost. He has put things in place for the team and I don’t think anyone will ever forget that.”