Moore the merrier for West Indies

'An academy will have a massive influence on the future of West Indies cricket' © Will Luke Enlarge

It is arguably the most poisoned of chalices, coaching West Indies. Many have tried, few have succeeded and when David Moore replaced Bennett King after this year's World Cup, the consensus was "who?" Yet although he has only been in power for a matter of months, the effect he is having on West Indies has already been felt.

Moore is an uncomplicated character; straight-talking, passionate about his job and speaks fluently (with a strong Australian twang) about the future. He believes in himself and his players. The notion that he was taking on a role widely perceived as a nightmare, or a thankless task, is utterly alien to him and it is palpably clear that he thrives on getting the most out of his players.

"I don't necessarily think it's a poisoned chalice," he told Cricinfo at a drizzly Dublin this week, where West Indies were taking on Scotland. "I think it's a wonderful opportunity. I know the players; I know they're very good quality players and we've just been a bit short of the mark."

Though West Indies turned around their summer, beating England in the one-day series, their decade-long decline has been so stark that the masters of the 1970s and 1980s are still viewed through rose-tinted spectacles. This was Moore's era - if not as a player (he played once for New South Wales in the 1980s) then a fan - and he witnessed the bulldozing effect West Indies had on the world. They were the top dogs, an accolade now belonging to his native Australia. However, Moore isn't depressed or weighed down by the hope of reliving the glory days.

"It's very difficult [comparing present to then], yes - but cricket's very cyclical. I lived through the time where Australia were at the bottom of the table. Look where they are now," he said. "I remember Australia getting beaten by India, New Zealand - everyone. So I think it's cyclical but I also think the structure the boards put in place also have an effect.

"I think the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) are implementing in the right direction, and they're trying to implement their new cricket academy. I think one of the very important positions that they're going to advertise for is the head of their academy. That will have a massive influence on the future of West Indies cricket. I know that they're moving very quickly to try and get that finalised."

'Hard work is the key. Hard work, discipline, energy and commitment' © Will Luke Enlarge

Academies - the buzz phrase of the last few years - and their impact on Australian cricket has been plain to see. Quite whether the WICB can manage to build one is another matter entirely. Nevertheless, Moore insists they are the way forward.

"It gives them good, hard training to practise and to modify skills - and that can have a massive effect on their development," he said. "With any academy, it underpins focus to that group of players. They're playing together, living together - living, breathing and eating cricket, 24 hours a day. It's a very important institution in every cricket-playing nation or team.

"A cricket academy would help create consistency because consistency is formed through hard work. Get them together, build their fitness, build their skills, their mental approach...the raw talent is certainly there."

Raw talent or not, Moore will need the full support of his board if his dreams are to become a reality, and he is quick to insist that an academy alone can't resurrect West Indies' glory days.

"It takes time to understand and relate success to hard work," he said, "and some of our guys are realising that. Hopefully they'll maintain that, and their focus. As head coach...I just like players to be able to express themselves as cricketers and in the way they think. But also to make them realise that hard work is the key. Hard work, discipline, energy and commitment. I'm not saying it's been lacking before I came on board but I think we've got those to work on for sure."

And Moore has joined a growing number of people impressed with the impact Chris Gayle has had on the team.

"His captaincy has been very good, yes. His relationship with players and [the coaching staff] has also been very good. Chris is a very good judge of cricket: he identifies points that we can be happy about, but he also recognises points that we can work on, so I've been very impressed by his ability to read the game and I hope he gets other opportunities in the future."

The impression you get from Moore is that he lives and breathes West Indies cricket and that he too would welcome further opportunity. He is still not full-time, but clearly the chalice isn't so much poisoned as precious and promising.