Moody – SLC in crucial talks today

Chris DHAMBARAGE

CRICKET: The hierarchy of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Interim Committee will enter a crucial period since having come into power when they figure in a decisive meeting with coach Tom Moody at the Board Headquarters in Maitland Place today.

The meeting which is held less than a day before the team departs to Abu Dhabi for a three match one day international series against Pakistan is set to decide the future of Tom Moody whose contract with the national team expires later this month.

Sri Lanka Cricket Chairman Jayantha Dharmadasa will head the discussions with Tom Moody along with three of his close associates K. Mathivanan (Secretary), Duleep Mendis (Chief Executive Officer SLC) and Prakash Schaffter (Committee Member SLC).

In addition three former Sri Lankan cricketers Michael Tissera (manager), Anura Tennekoon (Sri Lanka ‘A’ team manager) and Bandula Warnapura (Manager Operations) are also expected to join the discussions in this important meeting.

Apart from the extension of Tom Moody another major issue that will be discussed is the highly controversial batting of Australian opener Adam Gilchrist who created a stir by using a squash ball inside his gloves while batting in the World Cup final against Sri Lanka.

However the SLC seem to be more concerned about the burning issue of coach Tom Moody and they are still confident that the former Australian spinner would renew his contract despite several media reports that he would return home to coach the Western Australian state side.

First it was the former Australian opening batsman Justin Langer who said that Tom Moody would return home after the World Cup to coach the Western Australian State side.

In contrast SLC officials said that Moody had promised to have discussions soon after returning from the Caribbean.

Moody has been with the Sri Lankan team since June, 2005 and the national team have performed extremely well having emerged runners up to Australia at the recently concluded International Cricket Council World Cup in the West Indies.

In addition the Lankans drew a test series 1-1 against England and followed up with a historic five nil clean sweep in the one day international series. They also drew a one day international series against New Zealand.

Moody who played eight Tests for Australia and won two World Cups for his country is undoubtedly a wanted man where he has options in Australia, Sri Lanka and England but had stated that he would wait until the World Cup was over before making a decision.

Moody’s family currently lives in England and he had said the needs of his wife and two children would heavily influence his decision. At the start of the year Moody withdrew from the field to guide Australia with Tim Nielsen being picked to succeed John Buchanan.

Sri Lanka will have a busy international programme during the next six months where teams from Bangladesh, and England are scheduled to tour the island.

In addition they will compete in the inaugural Twenty20 tournament in South Africa in September which will be followed by a two test series against Australia in Brisbane and Hobart in November.