Peter Moores sacking by England is the right call, says Nick Knight
'The last six to eight months have not gone well in terms of results'
Sunday 10 May 2015 08:25, UK
Peter Moores lacked the international pedigree necessary as England head coach says Sky Sports’ Nick Knight.
Moores’ second spell in charge of the national team ended in the same way as his first, with news that he was sacked on Sunday.
Knight believes it was the right move, but feels some sympathy for Moores who he’d still like to see have a role in the England set-up.
“I’m not surprised the decision has been made to go in a different direction”, said Knight. “The last six to eight months have not gone well in terms of results.
“From the outside looking in, perhaps he lacked that international pedigree necessary at the highest level and I think that’s one of the possible reasons why he’s been moved aside.
“He has developed some players within the side – that is one of his great skills and I would be very keen to still have Peter involved in the set-up, identifying younger players and bringing them through the system – but unfortunately the team as a whole hasn’t moved in the right direction.”
The move to part with Moores was made shortly after the announcement of Andrew Strauss as the new Director of England cricket.
Knight thinks it’s a brilliant appointment and understands why Strauss was eager to start with his own man in charge.
“The buck stops with Andrew Strauss,” said Knight. “It is why he has been appointed, to get these decisions right.
“He will do whatever he thinks will be for the betterment of the England set-up. He’s passionate about the England team.”
“He didn’t have to take on this job, but he has taken it because he feels he can make a difference.
“He’ll have his own ideas and he has the strength of character to stand by his decisions, as we’ve seen with the sacking of Moores. He will get a management team that he wants, that’s the bottom line.”
Yorkshire coach Jason Gillespie is the favourite for the job, having guided the county to the Division One County Championship crown last year under the direction of the ECB’s incoming chairman, Colin Graves.
But Knight thinks it’s his qualities as a player for Australia that could be of most use to the England side.
“Gillespie’s work at Yorkshire means that naturally he is a sought-after candidate,” said Knight. “But he also had incredible quality as a player and the experiences he will have had working in such an exceptional Australian team, will no doubt benefit the players.
“But it will be a tough assignment for whoever is brought in, with an Ashes series starting in a couple of months’ time.”
