Moody named Sri Lanka coach

Tom Moody has been named as Sri Lanka's new coach, less than a week after being overlooked for a similar position with the Indian team. Moody, who is currently the coach of Worcestershire, will be officially unveiled to the media at a press conference on Thursday morning, but it has been confirmed that his deal runs until after the 2007 World Cup.

His appointment ends a period of uncertainty in Sri Lankan cricket after the departure of John Dyson, following Sri Lanka's rearranged tour of New Zealand, where they lost the Test series 1-0.

Moody is still in the early stages of his coaching career, but had been the favourite for the Sri Lankan job since earlier this month, when he surprisingly emerged from the list of candidates.

By the time Greg Chappell was handed the Indian job Moody was already on a plane to Colombo to complete the interview process. He made a presentation to the interim cricket board, the chief executive Duleep Mendis, team manager Michael Tissera and cricket committee chairman Arjuna Ranatunga.

"We are delighted to announce that we have signed up Tom Moody as our new national coach until May 31, 2007," said Typhon Mirando, the board secretary. "Tom made a fantastic presentation about his background and the future of Sri Lanka's cricket, and it was a unanimous decision to appoint him."

Although he brings limited coaching experience, Moody played eight Tests and 76 ODIs for Australia, helping them win two World Cups, in 1987 and 1999. He has a clause in his Worcestershire contract that allows him to pursue international opportunities, and at one point was considered to be a candidate to succeed Duncan Fletcher as England coach.