/ 20 April 2007

Moores to replace Fletcher as England coach

Peter Moores will succeed Duncan Fletcher as England’s permanent coach, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Friday.

Fletcher’s resignation was announced on Thursday after England were dumped out of the World Cup following some dismal performances. He will stand down after Saturday’s final World Cup Super Eights match with hosts West Indies.

Moores (44) has been head of England’s academy since 2005 and was widely tipped to take over. The ECB had hinted that any appointment would be temporary but the board have decided to give him the job permanently.

”ECB has developed a contingency and succession plan for all key management positions. Peter has been identified for some time as a leading candidate as a future England head coach,” ECB chief executive David Collier said in a statement.

”He is highly respected as an innovative and inspiring coach and is an ideal person to accept this appointment.” — Reuters