Cricket: Parsons handed performance director role.

Byline: BY RICHARD GIBSON

DAVID PARSONS has succeeded England coach Peter Moores as the performance director of the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Parsons has been acting director since Moores took over as England coach and his full-time appointment comes as the ECB have also appointed Richard Halsall as national fielding coach.

Hugh Morris, managing director of England Cricket, said: "David has ensured the smooth running of the National Cricket Performance Centre at Loughborough University, and has worked closely with Peter Moores to ensure the best possible support and preparation programmes for the England team.

"He has played a central role in developing and delivering the England Performance Camp in India in which he has embraced the expertise of coaches such as Martyn Moxon and Ashley Giles.

"His ability to attract such names demonstrates that he will be ideally suited to the role of performance director because one of his main challenges will be to provide the current England Performance Programme, and future England players with the best possible coaching advice and support to ensure they canmaximise their potential."

Moores added: "David Parsons has done an outstanding job as acting performance director and I am delighted that he has secured the position on a permanent basis. He will have a very important role to play in developing our future England players."