With Indian backing, Moody heads to WACA

Supported by an Indian industrialist family, Western Australian Cricket Association staged a major coup by roping in Tom Moody as their new coach, frustrating desperate Sri Lankan efforts to retain the Australian.

Supported by an Indian industrialist family, Western Australian Cricket Association staged a major coup by roping in Tom Moody as their new coach, frustrating desperate Sri Lankan efforts to retain the Australian.

Moody was much in demand after his impressive stint with the Sri Lankan side, who reached the final of the World Cup. While Sri Lanka were keen to retain the towering Australian, Moody decided to join Western Australia, a team he once led, for the next three seasons as its manager and head coach.

Interestingly, WACA also chose the occasion to announce their partnership with Indian industrialist Vikas Rambal and the Rambal family, who will be their first coach sponsor.

Story continues below this ad

Moody brings with him Trevor Penney, who has been appointed assistant coach after two years in a similar role with Sri Lanka. WACA chief executive officer Graeme Wood said securing the services of Moody and Penney was a major coup for cricket in WA.

“This is one of the most significant appointments that the Association has ever made. We have been able to secure an internationally-respected mentor with an impeccable record to take the Retravision Warriors forward,” Wood said.

“Tom is a legend of WA cricket and has led the state to domestic first-class and one-day titles. He brings a wealth of coaching experience after his success with Sri Lanka and Worcestershire, and will command instant respect from the Retravision Warriors squad,” he said.

Wood also thanked the Rambal family and said, “It is also a measure of Tom’s standing in the cricket community that the highly-regarded Rambal family would come on board with the WACA as the first coach sponsor we’ve had.”

Story continues below this ad

Vikas Rambal said his family was delighted to be involved in the landmark sponsorship with the WACA. “I believe every cricket lover in Western Australia will be delighted at the news that the Warriors will have the talents of such a sought-after international coach to steer them to success in the coming years,” Rambal said.

The WACA statement also quoted Moody as saying that it was an honour for him to return to his home State. “My aim as coach will be to do what I can to help the current crop of Retravision Warriors achieve that same success,” he said.

“I am looking forward to working with former teammates such as Graeme Wood and Justin Langer, two men I was able to share the thrill of winning Sheffield Shield and domestic one-day titles with.”

In Colombo, Sri Lanka Cricket issued a statement to announce that Moody would leave at the end of his contract this month for “personal and family commitments”.

Lanka’s Hunt begins

Story continues below this ad

Colombo: Sri Lanka’s cricket authorities today said they would immediately start the search for a new foreign coach to replace Tom Moody, who is leaving at the end of his contract this month.

“We will look for a foreign coach from tomorrow,” said Kangadaran Mathivanan, secretary to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), the governing body of the sport.

Mathivanan said the SLC would continue the policy of obtaining a foreign, as opposed to a local, coach and said it was too early to name possible contenders for the job.