Aussies may poach Moody: Ranatunga

Sydney, Sep 1 (UNI) All praise for the Australian coach, former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga fears Tom Moody might be poached to train the Oz after the cricket World Cup in the Caribbean next year.

Along with Tim Nielson, former Australia all rounder Moody is favourite to step into John Buchanan's shoes, who will step down after cricket's showpiece tournament finishes in April.

Waxing eloquent, Ranatunga said Moody had shown great diplomacy and savvy when dealing with a complex Sri Lanka cricket board.

''With all the controversial things happening in Sri Lanka, it's very, very important with the cricket board changing, that you can deal with this since as all these things can affect the team,'' Ranatunga was quoted as saying by the Herald Sun.

''I thought he has handled everything very well.

''He has done a good job so far,'' he added.

However, he said the Oz would be hotly pursuing Moody after the world cup and the coach may return to the country of his birth.

''Normally after the World Cup there are a few changes,'' he said.

''I am sure he will get an offer from Australia. That's normal procedure. We train people, we get people in, then some other country will take them,'' he added.

Moody has presided over some excellent Sri Lanka performances since taking the job last year, guiding the team into the finals of the VB Series in Australia last summer, drawing the recent Test series in England and claiming a 5-0 limited-overs series whitewash against England.

Nielsen, a former South Australia wicketkeeper who has spent time as Buchanan's assistant, has the support of current Australia players and the next generation emerging through the centre of excellence.

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