FORMER Australian Test player and World Cup winner Tom Moody is hoping to give the 'old enemy' England a helping hand by producing players at Worcestershire good enough to perform at the highest level.

"I think it would be great to have a few more players representing England from our club. We have certainly got some talent and hopefully we can help them make the next step," said the County's Director of Cricket.

Moody admits to getting as big a buzz watching the progress being made by his New Road squad as he did when he was playing.

After masterminding the County's elevation to the first division of the Norwich Union League last season, he is making promotion to the top flight in the Championship the main priority for this year.

And if that happens it will be another major highlight in a career which is gathering momentum following his decision to pack up playing.

The determined 36-year-old said: "I've been lucky that I've had a very enjoyable career and one that has enjoyed some great team success both at international and domestic level. Yes, I could still be playing first-class cricket but could I be playing it at a level that I'd like? The answer is no.

"Generally in Australia you are brought up in the frame of mind that you try to reach a peak and when you do you stay there as long as you possibly can. When you start sliding off your peak it's time to move away and let the young buck come in.

"I've always had that frame of mind. I've never wanted to be pushed out of any of side. I wanted to make the decision to retire from playing when I thought it was right. For me that decision was a year ago. I've been lucky that I've managed to stay in the game as Director of Cricket at Worcester because I get as much pleasure out of the success of the individuals and the team as a coach as I did as a player. So it is rewarding."

One particularly satisfying and rewarding moment for Moody came in the County's last Championship match against Northamptonshire at Northampton.

A decision to include an extra spinner meant opener Philip Weston made way for Matthew Rawnsley and newcomer Stephen Peters was promoted to open the innings.

He responded by notching his maiden Championship century - a career-best 146.

Moody said: "I was aware he was flexible. I knew he had performed as an opening batsman for Essex and also in the middle order. He'd really been from one to six over the early stages of his career, so I knew that he had the ability and technique to cope with the new ball.

"But I must admit it wasn't until we made a late decision on playing two spinners in the match that we took up the option to move him up the order."

The opportunity certainly pleased Peters, who said: "We changed the side once we got to the ground and I was told I was opening which was fine with me. I'll bat anywhere I can.

"I've done it a little bit when I was younger, but it's something I don't mind doing. If it means playing I'll bat anywhere."

Peters' performance underlined the faith Moody has got in the 23-year-old who was one of four major signings the County made during the close season.

Moody said: "To me Stephen was a person who looked like he had a lot of talent but was treading water. He had been given opportunities at Essex and performed moderately but without really setting the world on fire.

"He had a few technical things that he needed to work on and still needs to continue to work on, but he had all the right attributes. I felt he was a player that could perform at this level and probably go beyond. He was certainly interested to break out of the mould he was in and look to move his career forward. I'm pleased he chose Worcester as a place that he's going to take his career further.

"It's early days for him. A hundred early in the season certainly doesn't make a summer but he's got all the right credentials. I think he can play a massive role in the future of the club. He's only young and he's a useful player in both forms of the game."

Rewarding

Moody is also finding it rewarding to see another newcomer Gareth Batty settling into the New Road scene following his close-season move from Surrey.

He said: "He's in the same category as Peters - a young guy who potentially has got a big future ahead of him in first-class cricket. Let's hope beyond first-class to Test cricket.

"He's been very successful in second team cricket for Surrey where again he was treading water. Really he was a player that needed to be playing as much first-class cricket as possible to gain that experience, get overs under his belt and start taking a few wickets. Who knows where his career could take him? I think we are reasonably well balanced at the moment as a squad. I think we are certainly in better shape than we were 12 months ago.

"As a squad we are stronger, there's certainly a lot of competition for places now and that's both in one-day and four-day cricket. That has probably made my job and Graeme Hick's as captain a difficult one when it comes to selecting teams. But really I'd prefer that than scratching my head and wondering who I can put in spots. It's nice to have that difficult situation we have."