England have moved swiftly to appoint former Sussex coach Peter Moores as successor to departing head coach Duncan Fletcher.

Moores, currently the National Cricket Centre director, will take over from May 1.

Fletcher yesterday announced that, after eight years in charge, he would be leaving his post after tomorrow's final match of the World Cup against West Indies in Barbados.

England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive David Collier said: "Peter has been identified for some time as a leading candidate as a future England head coach.

"He led Sussex to domestic success and is one of the highest qualified coaches in world cricket.

"He has worked since 2005 with the National Academy programme and has led tours with the England A team.

"He is highly respected as an innovative and inspiring coach and is an ideal person to accept this appointment.

"In addition to the preparation of the Test team for the npower series versus the West Indies in five weeks' time, Peter will also commence the important work of preparing a new strategy for one-day cricket to match the improvements made in Test match cricket and to build a side for the 2009 ICC Twenty20 Championship in England and the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup in Asia."

Moores, who in 2003 led Sussex to their first county championship title in 164 years, added: "It is an honour to have been appointed as England head coach and to succeed Duncan Fletcher, who has been an outstanding coach of the England team.

"I have enjoyed my two years at the National Academy and my role with the England teams.

"The challenge of this new role excites me and I look forward to meeting up with the players on their return to the United Kingdom and to leading England to success in both Test and one-day cricket."