Boycott, with whom the England and Wales Cricket Board have held "informal conversations" about helping England's age-group teams, made his views known to Giles Clarke when the ECB chairman spent a day at Headingley Carnegie during the County Championship match against Hampshire.

Boycott told Clarke the ECB should tap into the vast reservoir of knowledge among people who have played the game at the highest level.

But the ECB yesterday dismissed a report in The Times suggesting Boycott had been approached to fulfil a part-time coaching role with the senior squad.

It had been mooted that Boycott would work closely with the batsmen, helping the likes of Andrew Flintoff to fulfill their potential on the international scene.

Flintoff, recently back from a fourth ankle operation, is currently struggling with the bat and was dismissed without scoring for the third County Championship innings in a row yesterday while the English top-order was widely criticised during the winter tour of New Zealand for not making big scores.

Flintoff is a known admirer of the Yorkshire legend and has called on Boycott's expertise in the past.

Boycott, 67, was similarly critical of Yorkshire's inability to use the knowledge of ex-players before being appointed a club director in 2006, saying the county had paid "lip service" to his offers of help.

The former opening batsman may be utilised to help England Under-19s, although the details of any role remain unclear.

Yorkshire's chief executive Stewart Regan commented: "Giles Clarke came to our board meeting a couple of weeks ago and Geoffrey, in his usual style, was very vocal about needing to make sure that the England set-up had the best possible support and advice.

"Geoffrey was making the point that there is a whole raft of people in the counties who are not being consulted and used – former players. He believes England should be tapping into the expertise of former players and said he would be more than willing to help.

"Geoffrey already gets involved with the Yorkshire lads and we would be very happy for him to bring his vast experience to benefit England.

"He is hands-on at Yorkshire, talks regularly to people behind the scenes and we value his input considerably."

Boycott has a close ally in Mike Gatting, the ECB's new managing director of cricket partnerships, and would fit any new role around his media commitments and duties at Yorkshire. He assisted England players in the late Eighties and early Nineties.

South African pace bowler Morne Morkel is leaving Yorkshire after a scan revealed he has suffered a hamstring tear.

Morkel sustained the injury during the Championship match against Nottinghamshire.

With a recovery time of three to six weeks, and with Pakistan pace bowler Rana Naved-ul-Hasan due to take over the overseas role in June at the latest, Morkel will fly home on Sunday after playing only one game.

Rana Naved is due to arrive at Yorkshire next week and will be registered from May 19. But Yorkshire say he will only make his debut once they are satisfied he has fully recovered from the serious shoulder injury he suffered at the end of last summer.