Peter Moores Comes to Lancashire
Recently Sacked England Cricket Coach is Now With Lanacashire
Feb 19, 2009
Peter Moores had a reasonable record in county cricket as a player. However it was in the field of coaching that he really distinguished himself.
Playing Career (Mainly with Sussex)
Moores had a long and reasonably successful first class career (1982-98). The wicket keeper/batsman made his first class debut for Worcestershire. Not getting many playing opportunities, he moved to Sussex in 1985 where he earned his cap four years later. He served Sussex well and made over 500 dismissals. With the bat he scored over 7,000 runs averaging almost 25. Moore also had a one season stint in the South African domestic cricket in 1988-89 for Orange Free State.
Coaching SussexMoores assumed Sussex's captaincy in 1997 after some turbulence at the club. The next season his role changed again as he became player-coach. His natural flair for coaching was evident from the very beginning and midway through the season he retired as a player to concentrate solely on coaching.
It was in the role of a coach that Moores achieved great successes. In 2001, he guided Sussex to win the second division. And within two seasons Moores' coached Sussex claimed the biggest prize of them all, the County Championship itself, in 2003, remarkably for the first time ever in the club's history of 164 years.
Coaching at the National LevelECB had already taken cognizance of Moores's exceptional skills. He was the coach of England A on their tour of 2000-01. Then in 2005 he became the director of the ECB's academy replacing the legendary Australian Rodney Marsh, also a wicket keeper. The next step was the biggest one as Moores succeeded Duncan Fletcher as the coach of the England team in April 2007.At the international stage Moores didn't live up to the expectations. England lost their first ever home test series in six years, in 2007, against India and they again lost to South Africa last summer. Away from home, England did win test series against New Zealand and West Indies who are ranked below them. However, against higher ranked Sri Lanka and India they came off second best.
On the one day front, home series victories against India and South Africa as well as away success in Sri Lanka were impressive. That was also badly tarnished when England had their worst ever (5-0) drubbing in India a few months back.
Moore's Conflict with Pietersen and SackingAfter the disappointing tour of India, the sword of Damocles was hanging over his head. The inevitable was hastened by his much publicised dispute with the England captain, Kevin Pietersen. The two had different opinions over many issues including team's training methods and also about the selection of the former captain Michael Vaughan for England's Jan-April 2009 tour of West Indies. Pietersen had reportedly even asked the ECB to call an emergency meeting to discuss Moores role as the coach of the team.
So it was no surprise when on the 7th of January, ECB sacked Moores from the position of England's coach. It was immediately followed by somewhat unexpected resignation of Pietersen himself as the captain of England.
Lancashire Is Moore's Boyhood LoveHaving been shown the door by the ECB, Moores was immediately invited to take the position of head coach at county side Lancashire. And he was more than happy to welcome the opportunity as Lancashire is the team he grew up supporting.
The Red Rose county supporters certainly expect that Moores brings similar successes that he brought for Sussex.
