Moody goes downunder

Search for new coach on:

Chris Dhambarage

CRICKET: Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) officials said yesterday that they would immediately begin the search for a new foreign coach to replace Tom Moody who decided to leave at the end of his contract later this month.

Tom Moody who guided Sri Lanka to the World Cup final in the West Indies last month informed the SLC that due to his family and personal commitments he was unable to continue with the job. The former Australian all rounder is to take up coaching his state the Western Australian team.

The Secretary of SLC Kangadaran Mathivanan said that they would look for a foreign coach from tomorrow with the home series against Bangladesh coming up next month. He said that the SLC would continue with the policy of obtaining a foreign coach but said it was too early to name any possible contenders for the vacant position.

Moody met with Sri Lankan cricket officials last morning at the Board Headquarters to inform them that he would not be taking up their offer to continue coaching the team. "Sri Lanka Cricket regrets that Tom Moody has to leave our services and (we) respect his decision," SLC said in a media statement.

Moody was quoted in the Cricket Board release saying that leaving the Lankan team was a "difficult decision given the strong relationships built between Sri Lanka Cricket and myself." "However, I would be more than happy to assist in whichever way I possibly can for the continuous success of Sri Lanka Cricket."

Meanwhile the board's spokesman, Samantha Algama, said Sri Lanka Cricket was grateful for Tom Moody's valuable contribution to the success of the national team and Sri Lanka Cricket during his tenure. He was the fourth Australian to be in charge of the Sri Lankan team after Dav Whatmore, Bruce Yardley and John Dyson.

Moody will return to the Australian state where he began his first-class career in 1985-86 while taking over the post vacated by Wayne Clark at the end of last southern summer.

Moody's contract with Sri Lanka ends on May 31. However he will accompany the Sri Lanka team for their tour of Abu Dhabi for a one-day international series with Pakistan. The former Worcestershire all rounder was appointed Sri Lanka's national coach in 2005, succeeding compatriot John Dyson.

Moody's assistant Trevor Penney will also join the Western Australian State side after overlooking the team during their home series against Bangladesh which is scheduled to take place next month.

Moody has been a wanted man after he guided the Sri Lankans to the International Cricket Council World Cup final 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.

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.