Chris Adams' chances of becoming Surrey’s new Cricket Manager have improved after his main rival pulled out.

Former Warwickshire opener Andy Moles, 47, was on a short-list for the post but was last night appointed as New Zealand’s new coach.

He succeeds John Bracewell, who will leave after the second Test against Australia in Adelaide later this week.

I understand former skipper Adams, 38, was interviewed yesterday by a three-man panel chaired by Surrey’s Managing Director of Cricket Gus Mackay, his former boss at Hove, Chairman of Cricket Roger Harman and former Surrey fast bowler Tony Murphy.

Adams has made no secret of his desire to move into cricket management, even though he still has a year left on his playing contract with Sussex.

He was on a short-list of two for the post of team manager at Hampshire but the job went instead to Giles White with former England coach Duncan Fletcher appointed on a consultancy basis last week.

He was also on a short-list of five for Mackay’s old job at Hove. Sussex are due to announce their new chief executive later this week.