Moores replaces Marsh as national academy director

The England and Wales Cricket Board has named Peter Moores as its new national academy director. The 42-year-old Sussex coach will replace Rod Marsh, who resigned from the post in December in order to spend more time with his family in Australia.

The England and Wales Cricket Board has named Peter Moores as its new national academy director. The 42-year-old Sussex coach will replace Rod Marsh, who resigned from the post in December in order to spend more time with his family in Australia.

Moores will continue to work with Sussex this summer and will start his three-year contract on 1 October. The former Sussex wicketkeeper will find it hard to replace Marsh, the no-nonsense, blunt-talking Aussie. During his four years in the position the former Australian wicket-keeper played an important role in the development of many of England's current Test side.

Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison, Andrew Strauss, James Anderson and Simon Jones all spent time at the national academy, and it is Moores duty to produce the next crop of England stars. This challenging role will not overawe the Yorkshireman who beat off several candidates - believed to include Tom Moody and Mike Gatting - with experience of the international game.

Moores has impressed everyone with the way he has coached Sussex since 1998, and his excellent work behind the scenes was instrumental in the county's 2003 Championship win.

"This job gives you a chance to make a difference for cricket in the future. It is a great opportunity," Moores said. "I love the game. People think I am enthusiastic, and I am.

"I am thrilled to have been given the chance to build on the foundations laid by Marsh," said Moores. "It's a huge wrench to leave Sussex after all that we have a achieved in recent years. My immediate priority this season will be Sussex but my long-term vision for the academy will be based around the same ethos that has operated at Hove - one which involves plenty of hard work and careful preparation."

Duncan Fletcher, the England coach, did not have the smoothest of working relationships with Marsh and sat on the committee that selected Moores. "Our coaching philosophies draw on similar values and I am sure that we will both enjoy working together to the mutual benefit of England's cricket," he said.