The search for the new director of England cricket officially starts on Friday with Clare Connor, head of the women’s game, and Nathan Leamon, the national team’s lead analyst, two of the more eye-catching names said to be in contention.

Andrew Strauss called time on a three-year spell in charge of the England men’s teams this month as his wife, Ruth, continues her treatment for cancer. But the former captain will continue to work on ad hoc consultancy projects, including the search for his successor alongside Tom Harrison, the ECB chief executive, and the head-hunting firm SRI.

The role will be advertised on Friday and while a number of title-winning county directors will doubtless be in the frame – including Surrey’s Alec Stewart, Yorkshire’s Martyn Moxon, Ashley Giles at Warwickshire and Angus Fraser of Middlesex – past experience of playing in men’s professional cricket will be listed as desirable rather than mandatory.

Cricket: Former England women's captain Clare Connor lands ICC role Read more

This will therefore see the field open up. Connor, a former England captain, has been in charge of the women’s game since 2007 and, having overseen last summer’s World Cup win and been central to plans for the ECB’s new 100‑ball competition that starts in 2020, is considered a strong candidate by the hierarchy.

Connor considered applying for the position when it was vacant in 2013 after encouragement from senior ECB figures. With her domestic partner, Andy Flower, yet to decide whether to apply, despite stepping in for Strauss on a temporary basis this year, Connor could now to be set to take this previous interest further.

Leamon is another potential candidate who did not play professionally in the men’s game but has the requisite of working at the elite level. The Cambridge mathematics graduate has been lead analyst for the national team since 2009 and like Connor is also highly thought of by the England setup.

As was the case previously, the position oversees all performance aspects pertaining to the England men’s team and in the first year will include the recruitment of a new head coach. Trevor Bayliss, hired by Strauss in 2015, has already stated he will not renewing his contract after next year’s World Cup and Ashes home summer.

As well as continuing the work of Strauss as regards the overseeing the culture of the national side, the position is understood to place a greater emphasis on long-term strategy, scheduling and liaising with the county game, and helping to implement the new domestic structure from 2020 to 2024, which includes The Hundred.

England are looking to have the successful candidate in place before the senior side’s tour to the Caribbean in January. Flower, the former head coach, will remain in charge until then, a spell that includes the disciplinary hearing facing Ben Stokes and Alex Hales in December following last year’s incident in Bristol.