New year resolution for Moores

Peter Moores has suffered some mixed fortunes since taking over as England coach in May 2007

England head to New Zealand on Saturday for a Test and one-day tour with coach Peter Moores intent on greater consistency.

New year, new regime, new start - that is how Moores essentially views the eight-week trip following a barren Test tour of Sri Lanka, while also understanding the need to assess the best personnel in more decisive fashion.

Wicketkeeper Matt Prior and Ravi Bopara are casualties of the 1-0 loss to Sri Lanka but Andrew Strauss is a beneficiary, recalled after just one series on the outside.

Bopara is among the first batch of players bound for the Antipodes, however, as England aim for a third straight one-day series victory - something not achieved since 2003.

“It’s the start of a new year and it’s an exciting time,” said Moores.

“We see this as a new start with everyone starting afresh. It’s a case of the one-day side carrying on and gaining momentum and the Test side needing to get back to winning ways.

All-rounder Luke Wright is part of England's recent new-look one-day team © Getty Images

Buy this photo

“We make no bones of the fact that we are still working on our one-day team and looking to build one that will gain consistent results whereas the Test side has changed a lot over the last couple of years through injuries and retirements.

“What that does is provide opportunities for others but we need to settle the side quickly and end this period of flux and change.

“There is a lot of big cricket coming up and we have a lot of work still to do.”

Positive results obviously enhance prospects of settled selection and Strauss, despite his personal malaise with the bat over the past year, is accustomed to winning.

The decision on if and how he fits into the Test equation - Alastair Cook and captain Michael Vaughan’s new alliance has great merit - will come in a month’s time. In the interim he will be keeping his eye in with his jaunt in New Zealand domestic cricket.

“Andrew Strauss lost his place after a long run in the side because he had got a bit fatigued and needed to gather himself and look at how he played,” Moores said.

“He has done that and it’s very good for him and us that he’s getting experience of New Zealand conditions for Northern Knights while the one-day series is on.

“That’s as good a preparation as it is possible to get. Andrew is a leader and a real competitor and will add a lot to our side.

Opener Andrew Strauss has been recalled to the Test team after missing out in Sri Lanka

“We haven’t finalised who opens because we’ve got a few options and I want to talk to Michael about it.”

While Strauss has been welcomed back into the squad, Sussex’s Prior must address his technical issues with his county coaches rather than England’s coaching staff Moores, Andy Flower and Mark Garaway, all of whom are former keepers.

“The bottom line is that we want his keeping to get better,” said Moores.

“There are clear areas that he has to work on. Matt took it on the chin, was very positive about it and has a bit of time now to work on things away from the spotlight.

“There was a long debate about keeping because nobody has nailed down that position yet since Alec Stewart and we need someone to do it.

“At the end of it we felt it was best to leave Matt out and players can come back stronger for being dropped.”

Having lost two of his three Test series since succeeding Duncan Fletcher as coach, results which have dropped England to fifth in the official rankings, Moores is in need of a change in fortunes for back-to-back Test campaigns against New Zealand.

If offered opponents of choice, the Black Caps, for all their abrasive qualities, would be high on the list when wins are required.

Matt Prior has been dropped after a short run in the side

Buy this photo

They are in a drastic rebuilding phase and do not play the same volume of Test cricket as their opponents - England have appeared in 28 matches since securing the Ashes in 2005 compared to New Zealand’s dozen in that period.

“I never saw myself having a honeymoon period as such because you are always under pressure to deliver when you are working with England,” said Moores.

“To me, you work as hard as you can with the players at your disposal and you will be judged accordingly at the end of whatever time you’re given in the role.

“To me the aim is always to try to build towards something that’s sustainable and that you can pass on to the next guy.

“Every time England plays is a challenge and we have to try to win, build momentum and keep moving forward.

“New Zealand are a very competitive side who get stuck in and generally make the most of what they have.

“On their own patch they can be pretty tough to play but if you didn’t expect to win there would be no point in playing and we expect to win both the one-day and Test series.”