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Brian Bolus, chairman of the England Management Advisory Committee (EMAC), was at Grace Road yesterday but not, as might be expected, to interview James Whitaker and Jack Birkenshaw, two of the popular candidates to be the new manager and coach of the national side.

Both have compiled meticulous CVs with Whitaker, the captain of the champions, taking three hours over his application, which is receiving increasing support.

``I am here to see a few old friends and not in any official capacity,'' Bolus said. ``Our committee meets next Monday to review the applicants and hopefully compile a shortlist as well as look at the job description of the England team manager.''

Both men would be on the shortlist of most insiders and they would bring a refreshing change of outlook to an England camp depressed after failures in Australia and in the World Cup.

Heavy overnight rain meant there was no play on the first day of Leicestershire's match with Glamorgan and a torrential storm at lunchtime made the prospects for today dim.

Glamorgan are encouraging spectators to visit their newly developed Sophia Gardens ground in Cardiff by offering free admission to the first day of the County Championship match against Middlesex next Wednesday.