England now have the best cricket coaching system in the world and are ready to start challenging the dominance of world champions Australia, according to Rod Marsh.
Marsh, Australia's former wicketkeeper and the outgoing director of England's national academy, said: "The introduction of the academy (in 2001) was the culmination. It was the last building block."
In an interview with next month's issue of The Wisden Cricketer magazine, he said the new structure of English cricket was tailored to identifying and nurturing world-class performers.
"It used to be hard to see what happened from under-19 level through to international cricket; now... it's a smooth transition."
Marsh, recruited by England after fulfilling the same role with young cricketers in Australia, added: "I would expect everyone who plays for England in the next 20 years to spend time at Loughborough, either through youth cricket, the academy or specialist camps.
"All people ever do is put it down by saying cricket's not played in schools, but England has the best coaching system in the world.
"The best sides are those with players putting pressure on the 1st XI, who perform because they have to perform. If this happens, England have a genuine chance of beating the best in the world."
Marsh, who has decided to stand down from his England academy post in 2005, said England's battery of fast bowlers were looking "like the best in the world", adding: "People are starting to believe that here is a pretty good England team. You don't win seven Tests out of seven unless you play good cricket."
{{/usCountry}}Marsh, who has decided to stand down from his England academy post in 2005, said England's battery of fast bowlers were looking "like the best in the world", adding: "People are starting to believe that here is a pretty good England team. You don't win seven Tests out of seven unless you play good cricket."
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