Peter Moores is targeting a brand of cricket English people will be proud of having been given a second crack at the top job.
Moores was England’s head coach between 2007 and 2009 before taking the reins at Lancashire for a successful five-year stint.
Having helped the Red Rose to their first LV= County Championship title for 77 years during that period, he has now been handed an opportunity to steer a national team in transition.
While Moores insisted key parts of his philosophy would be moulded alongside Cook, he did extol the virtues of creating an environment that allows players to express themselves.
He said: “You try to make sure that you help players in a world where it is quite difficult to be yourself; you learn to help people in a better way.
“They can still be real people, have their own view and be part of a strong team. I will hopefully bring that to the set-up.
“There is a lot of pressure and to go out and express yourself is a challenge but as a coach your role is to help them do that. They have been picked for a reason, because they are excellent players.
“The key is to produce a brand of cricket people are enjoying, where we are moving the game forward all of the time.”
Moores is confident, too, that England are getting a better coach than the one handed the reins almost exactly seven years ago.
“I don’t think anybody has the right to the job; you have to earn it,” he said. “I have obviously had five years at Lancashire since England, which I have loved.
“That’s been a great chance for me to reflect and develop. You ask players to develop; I think coaches have to as well.
“I am looking forward to bringing that experience back and working with Alastair in the coming months.
“I loved my time with England the first time and I am looking forward to getting another chance.”
Moores’ appointment was also given the seal of approval by Cook.
“It’s a very exciting time,” he enthused. “I have been in limbo over the last few months with Andy Flower having stepped down.
“To finally get to today, where we have got a new coach and can start planning, (is good). It’s going to be small steps and we have to rebuild.
“But we have got a huge amount of talent in the country and it’s a really exciting time to be an English player.
“Test and one-day places are up for grabs and we have got a new leadership group. To be part of that is exciting.”
For Managing Director – England Cricket Paul Downton, today was the culmination of a long search process for the right formula.
“I am excited about the opportunity to work with Peter and Alastair,” he said. “This is the future of English cricket, which I think starts now and I am really looking forward to some exciting times.”