Peter Moores established himself as one of the leading England-born coaches after a long, efficient career keeping wicket for Sussex, for whom he made over 500 dismissals. He first honed his skills as a member of the MCC groundstaff, and although he joined Worcestershire in 1982, his opportunities were limited by the ever-present David Humphries. He moved to Hove in 1985, initially as understudy to Ian Gould, and won his cap four years later. He was elected captain in 1997 after a winter of upheaval at Sussex, becoming player-coach in 1998. He retired midway through that season to concentrate on coaching and quickly established a reputation in that field. Under his direction, Sussex won the second division of the Championship in 2001, and then main title itself in 2003, Sussex's first title in their 164-year history. His ever-growing coaching skills were recognised by the ECB who appointed him as coach on the England A tour in 2000-01, and in 2005 he was appointed as Rod Marsh's successor as director of the ECB's academy. He quickly made a name for himself in the role, and it was not a surprise when he succeeded Duncan Fletcher as the England coach in April 2007. England lost their first home series in six years, 1-0 to India, before Sri Lanka beat them in the winter. Another home-series defeat to South Africa raised questions over Moores' credentials as coach. He rarely saw eye to eye with Kevin Pietersen, who was instated as England captain in August 2008, and the pair's wide-ranging disputes forced the resignation of Pietersen in early January 2009. His position now untenable, the ECB sacked Moores, six months before the Ashes as English cricket lurched into another crisis. A month later, he was appointed Lancashire's head coach.
Cricinfo staff February 2009