Moore waiting in the wings

8:30am Saturday 15th November 2008

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STEPHEN Moore says he is ready to make the step up to the England senior level this winter if required.

The Worcestershire opener flies out to India next week as part of the England Performance Programme (EPP) squad and with Peter Moores’ men already on the sub-continent the players making the three-week long trip on Friday would be perfectly placed should injury strike.

But the 28-year-old New Road batsman hopes that won’t be the case.

“You want everyone to be fit and healthy,” Moore said. “You want the England players playing to the best of their abilities and fit and healthy. But I’m making sure I’m prepared properly if that opportunity arises.”

The South African-born England qualified opener is on his first training camp with the national side following his best-ever County season.

Moore, who is part of the EPP squad with Worcestershire team-mate Steven Davies, was the country’s leading first class run-scorer in the campaign just finishedwith 1,451 and he also signed a new three-year deal with the County.

His rewards didn’t stop there as he won his first call-up to any of the England sides.

“I’m loving it,” Moore said. “There is a good variety here with youth and you have got experienced people like Michael Vaughan around.

“As a modern cricketer you have to be pretty versatile,” Moore said. “You have to be able to adapt and play in different conditions, temperatures and wickets.

“You set yourselves standards and it is down to you to keep them.”