Moores promises to build on Marsh's work

Peter Moores, Sussex's highly rated coach and former captain, was today unveiled as the new director of the ECB Academy. The appointment was confirmed at a press conference on a second rain-affected day of Sussex's opening championship fixture at The Oval, and Moores, 42, promised to build on the solid foundations that have been laid by his predecessor, Rod Marsh, who steps down from the role in September.

The England & Wales Cricket Board has long had its eye on Moores, who joined Sussex as a wicketkeeper in 1985, and went on to become their coach 12 years later. In 2000-01, he was asked to lead the England A squad on their winter tour of West Indies, but his county stint reached its zenith in 2003, when he steered the team to a maiden County Championship title after 164 years.

"My whole philosophy on coaching is one of getting excellence out of players," said Moores, "rather than putting it in." As a wicketkeeper, his career overlapped with the era of Jack Russell and Alec Stewart, but he insisted his lack of international experience would have no bearing on his ability to do the job. "My ambition, like every county player, was to play international cricket, but I never quite got there. Even so, I loved the fact that every year you had that opportunity."

Since moving from playing to coaching, however, Moores's international call-up has been looming large. Last winter he was on a shortlist of two to take over as West Indies' coach, a role that eventually went to Bennett King, and now he has beaten off other likely contenders such as Tom Moody for the Academy role.

"I didn't have a burning desire to do the West Indies job," admitted Moores. "They asked me to apply so I did. But the Academy is a fantastic job in its own right, so I'm going to get stuck in and give it the best I can. Coaches are no different to players. You play with a view to playing internationals, and as a coach, the thought of coaching the best players on the best stage available is very appealing."

It is a large pair of shoes that Moores is being asked to step into, however. In his four years in charge, Marsh has built the Academy from concept to fruition, and a steady flow of players is now beginning to graduate through the ranks, with Andrew Strauss and Kevin Pietersen the most prominent of England's recent additions.

"Rod has a reputation as a fantastic coach," said Moores, "but I've got my style, he's got his. I've never worked with him, so I'll just being doing it in my way, which is to judge it as you see the player. The most important thing is whoever does the job does it well. Rod's been there, put the groundwork in, established the standards that are needed, and started to produce players. My job is to build on what Rod's done, and move it forward."

By 2007, the ECB have said they hope that at least 90% of the England team will have come through the ranks of the Academy, although Moores was wary of setting such targets. "For me, the challenge is to make people better. Getting into the England side depends on how well the team is doing, and the individuals in that team. The better they do, the harder it is for new players to come through, so it's difficult to know if we can achieve those targets. All we can do is ensure that everyone who goes through the Academy can come out a better player and a more rounded person."

Moores refused to single out the Academy as the single most important aspect of England's recent renaissance. "There have been so many different factors," he said, "although the Academy is definitely a very positive move. It allows you to know the people, meet the standards and understand the way things are meant to be in an England set-up, before you actually get there. And it gives you a chance to work positively on your game in the winter months, when you might not otherwise have had the opportunity."

The new coach takes up the reins on October 1, which means he has plenty time in which to settle into his new role, and perhaps most importantly, forge a working relationship with Duncan Fletcher, something that was not always apparent about his predecessor, Marsh. "Obviously I've met Duncan before, but I'm looking forward to working closely. Until then, however, I've got a county season to run, and I'm going to make sure I leave Sussex in good shape, and maybe even with a trophy."

That might be easier said than done, however. The timing of this announcement will ensure that a visit to Hove will be at the top of every aspiring England candidate's wishlist. Sussex may just find themselves becoming the team that everyone wants to beat.