Moores rises from the mist

If the end of Duncan Fletcher's reign as England coach bore some resemblance to that of his football equivalent, Sven Goran Erikkson, the manner in which his successor was appointed was a world away from the protracted and painful process employed by the FA last year. We already knew that Peter Moores, the Academy and England A coach, was due to take over the reins in at least a temporary role, although today's announcement that he was to be Fletcher's permanent replacement was something of a surprise, as the ECB had been expected to take a view after seeing the contents of the Schofield Report, due in mid-May.

Nevertheless, the rapidity of the decision gives the firm impression that Moores was always first choice, and the ECB must be applauded for making a rare decisive move. He may not be the glamorous candidate, lacking the star appeal of someone like Tom Moody or Dav Whatmore, but his credentials are impeccable. He comes from a solid background in county cricket, bringing his career as a wicket-keeper to a premature end to concentrate on coaching Sussex, for whom he played, and leading them into the first division and, two years later, to the title.

He was then snapped up by the England setup, succeeding Rod Marsh as Academy director, and coach for A team tours. This should stand him in good stead as he seeks to build on the solid foundation he has inherited from Fletcher, and bring through the next generation, the best of whom he will already have coached.

His county connections should help him to rebuild the bridges between the international and domestic games so comprehensively burned during Fletcher's time. Expect contracted England players to be turning out more often for their counties, and more weight to be apportioned to county performance. Certainly the passing of the baton will not have escaped the notice of the likes of Chris Read and Owais Shah, two who were non grata under the previous regime.

Moores, who officially begins on May 1st, will have a number of issues to ponder before the first Test against West Indies just over a fortnight later. He is probably stuck with Michael Vaughan as captain, but will have to make a difficult decision as to which of the established batsmen is axed to accommodate him. He will also need to take a raincheck on the early-season performances of Harmison and Trescothick in particular and assess their worth at international level. The right wicket-keeper is still yet to identified, while the bowling attack needs refining. This is where Moores experience with the Academy should be of most use; he, more than anyone, will know if someone like Stuart Broad is ready to take the step-up to Test cricket.

More than anything, he needs to act a as pick-me up to an England team laid low by a disastrous six-month winter. Judging by the glowing accolades bestowed on him by those he has worked with, it seems that he is perfect for the job, intense and passionate but also sparky and light-hearted. The last two coaches England have had were at opposite ends of the spectrum; on the one hand, you had the excitable and deeply patriotic David Lloyd, while his successor Fletcher proved much more of a cold-fish, focused yet distant. Moores' task will be to steer a course between these two extremes; given time and the freedom to bring in his own people, his could prove to be a very successful appointment indeed.