Friday 20 April 2007

Moores a sound choice

Peter Moores is hardly a glamorous choice as new England coach, but he has worked his way up the ladder and deserves his chance. An anonymous county player, he moved from captaining Sussex to coaching them – and took them to their first ever Championship, after 164 years of waiting, in 2003. He established such a culture of success that his team’ continued to enjoy success even after he left to become director of the National Academy in 2005.

Moores is a man who has impressed everyone with his outstanding man-management skills and excellent knowledge of cricketing techniques. Former players he has coached speak of his qualities as a person, and the ability he has to gain the trust of his players, but he is no soft touch. And, after a tumultuous winter in which Duncan Fletcher appeared to lose a degree of authority, a harsh but fair coach could be exactly what is needed.

Given his recent stints in both county cricket and with the Academy, Moores should certainly have an excellent knowledge of all prospective England players – something Fletcher had at the start of his tenure but perhaps lost as his reign went on. Part of Fletcher’s problem, in the end, was his disdain for the county game; Moores has greater regard for it and will surely make international players play more for their counties.

Moores has earned his spurs over nine years of coaching and has long since been earmarked as the replacement for Duncan Fletcher. Whatever the tabloids may say, he does not deserve comparison with Steve McClaren.

1 comment:

Chrispy said...

Hopefully now we will see Matt Prior or Steven Davies as WK, with maybe Stuart Broad in the side and definitely Owais Shah along with an aggressive opener for ODI's to replace Tresco, ala Jefferson/Carberry/Loye.

He will at least know the county game and domestic players.