Tom's many moods when facing the media:

MOODY - from New Road to Maitland Place

BY SA'ADI Thawfeeq

HAVING enjoyed a very successful career as a player in domestic and international Australian cricket and also in English county cricket coupled with his vast experience in his role as director of cricket for Worcestershire CCC in England, Tom Moody will swap New Road for Maitland Place after accepting the role of national cricket coach of Sri Lanka.

"I am very excited and honest to be given this opportunity to work in the subcontinent," said Moody in his initial press conference held at Sri Lanka Cricket headquarters yesterday.

"I played a huge amount of Test matches against Sri Lanka in Australia and in Sri Lanka and it give me a little bit of advantage. The understanding of their culture, the way they play the game and the passion they have for the game here, I am well aware of," said Moody.

"I've had fond memories as a player touring Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan. I've had experience with Asian players in England at Worcestershire. We had a number of Asian players over the years during the time that I've been involved as a player and also as coach. I have a good understanding of their culture. It is certainly something that I look forward to and not something which I am concerned about," he said.

In fact Moody played seven of his eight Tests against subcontinent countries including five against Sri Lanka.

Moody considers it as a plus factor being more contemporary and being familiar with the senior members of the Sri Lanka team, "I've been retired from the game for five years. It's an advantage to know how the current players think where the game's gone to in the 21st century.

In my career I've seen the game change enormously as a player and as a coach. I look at it as an advantage if anything. Sri Lanka has some experienced players in the side and I have played against some of them and am familiar with them," said Moody.

Moody said he hopes to sit down with the senior players when he returns in the middle of June to commence his contract and look at what their thoughts are about the future.

"Then I can sit back on reflection of that and set out my own targets. Like the players will have their own targets in every tour and tournaments, the team will also have targets to achieve. You have to set reasonably hard targets if you want a successful time for Sri Lanka cricket," said Moody.

"I have a pretty good understanding of the strength and depth of international cricket all round. In Sri Lanka cricket there is a lot of depth. It is well known and documented world wide there is some terrific talent in the subcontinent and Sri Lanka is no exception to that. This is certainly is an exciting opportunity to work with some of the world's most talented players," he said.

Keeping it simple

Although there is so much of technology available Moody is a person who believes in keeping it simple and sticking to the basics.

"Cricket is a simple game. It is important that we keep it simple and do the simple things well. If we can use technology to help us do those things well we will do. But I am certainly not going to be crowding the players in the team with technology and confusing them. If we can use it as a support thing to help the team perform better and reflect better on performances, we will do," said Moody.

Apart from coaching the senior team, Moody will keep a close eye on the 'A' team and the under age teams to know where the talent is coming from and what talents are available. He will also be involved putting in place a proper coaching structure, bringing specialist coaches in and developing an academy side.

"It is important to review where the talent is coming from and identifying the coaching quality that is out there so that we can fast track the talent that is in Sri Lanka," he said.

World Cup 2007

Moody's immediate task when he returns on June 16 will be to prepare the senior team for two Test series against West Indies followed by the one-day triangular against West Indies and India at home.

However his main goal will be to win the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean.

"One-day cricket is the main focus. The journey between now and 2007 is geared towards having a successful campaign in the West Indies. We've got plenty of time up our sleeve to prepare for it. There is plenty of experience in the side and around the side to map out our strategies and make it a successful one," said Moody.

"The Sri Lanka team should look to achieve the top three in Test rankings and hold it consistently. To do that they need to continue their good form at home and improve on their form away from home. That would be the main focus in both those areas," he said.

Moody believes in having a quality support team to give the players the best possible opportunity to perform at their best. In that aspect it was important to review the current coaching structure and possibly look for an assistance coach.

"Having been an all-rounder myself and having a good understanding of both those fields I feel very confident both technically and tactically I can do the job in the role of a coach effectively. Off the field we should provide professional support staff as possible for the players. The areas of trainer and physio are crucial and they should be filled by quality people," said Moody.

He said that it was important for the captain and the coach to have a healthy relationship with the national selectors.

"I understand that it is already in existence. I hope to continue with that relationship so that we have a good clear communication between the selectors and the leadership of the team. It is important that you do get the best 11 on the park," he said.