Moody is new Sri Lanka coach

Worcestershire coach Tom Moody has agreed to become coach of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Cricket have announced that Tom Moody has been appointed as the new coach of the country’s national team.

The former Australia all-rounder, who just last week lost out to Greg Chappell in the race to become the new India coach, has agreed a deal that runs until June 2007.

Moody is currently coach of Worcestershire and will take over in time for the two-Test series with West Indies in July.

“It was a unanimous decision,” said board secretary Triphone Mirando.

“They (the interim committee) had a great meeting with Tom Moody.

“Tom Moody will overlook the coaching and will also be actively involved with the selectors, the cricket committee and talent scouting.

“Moody will most probably be joining the Sri Lanka team from June 18 in order to prepare for the West Indies Test tour of Sri Lanka and the triangular tournament which also involves India (in August).

“We are glad that the coaching job has now been filled and we look forward to an uninterrupted relationship between Tom Moody and the Sri Lanka team.”

The 39-year-old Moody played in eight Tests and 76 one-day internationals for Australia, winning two World Cups, in 1987 and 1999.

He will be officially unveiled as the successor to compatriot John Dyson, who left the post last month, at a press conference on Thursday morning.