Sussex inspire Moores

Peter Moores and Chris Adams enjoy winning the totesport Second Division title in 2005

Watch an exclusive video interview with Peter Moores on ECBtv - plus footage of his first press conference as England head coach

Peter Moores will employ the principles which served him so well at Sussex when he finally gets the chance to coach England.

Appointed as Duncan Fletcher’s successor last week, Moores will formally take charge of the England side on May 1, little more than a fortnight before the first Test against West Indies at Lord’s gets under way.

Moores steps up from director of the England Academy, having led unfancied Sussex to the first County Championship title in their history in 2003 as well as the National Cricket League Second Division title in 1999 and totesport Division Two six years later.

Sussex triumphed again last year under the guidance of Mark Robinson, who admitted their second championship in four seasons owed much to the framework put in place by Moores.

“The success at Sussex, which has continued under Mark Robinson, is based a lot on the environment created,” said Moores. “It’s an environment that’s safe to a degree, but challenging as well.

“I love the game of cricket and I love it to be played in the right way - that’s something I’ll be trying to get over strongly to the players.

“The key is we enjoy it and we keep it as simple as we possibly can. Hopefully we can have some fun.

Moores is hoping his methods allow the players to "have some fun" © Getty Images

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“One of the issues here for me is that people are happy to go out and express themselves as players in a very positive way.

“We had to work very hard on that. It started as hard work and discipline to get it going, and then we built on that.”

Though Moores was reticent to reveal too much about his plans when he was unveiled to the media on Wednesday - he stressed he wants to speak to the players first and foremost - he hinted that hard work would be central to his approach.

“Discipline is important in any cricket team,” he added. “You need to be efficient to get the work done.

”Discipline is best when it comes from the players themselves and from the environment that’s created. Hopefully that’s the sort of environment we will have in the England team.”

Those expecting sweeping changes as Fletcher hands over the reins are likely to be disappointed, with Michael Vaughan confirmed as captain for the first Test against West Indies and Moores paying tribute to the current crop of England players.

“It would be wrong for me to come in and change everything - that’s not the point,” he said. “The point is to see where the team are.

“We’ve shown through winning the Ashes over here that we’ve got some fantastic players who can play some great cricket.

“Duncan Fletcher has done a fantastic job, taking England from where they were to up to second in the world and winning the Ashes.

“They’ve only just got back so I’ll sit down and speak with everybody, but I’m very positive and very excited about looking forward.”