Tom Moody

Tom Moody

Source: [1], 16 May 2005

Thomas Masson Moody (born October 2, 1965, Adelaide, South Australia) is a former Australian cricketer and the current coach of the Sri Lankan cricket team. Schooled at Guildford Grammar School in Perth, where his father was headmaster, he exhibited great talent for athletics (particularly the high jump) and Australian rules football but truly excelled at cricket being selected for the 1st XI side, generally comprised of final year students, at the age of 13. Upon leaving school he moved immediately into Western Australian First Grade cricket with the Midland Guildford team.

"Long" Tom Moody, so nicknamed for his 1.98 metre (six foot six inch) height, began his first class career in the 1985/86 season with Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield and also played in England with Warwickshire and Worcestershire. Captaining WA and Worcester to various trophies, Moody, an aggressive and fast scoring batsman, scored over 20,000 first class runs and hit 64 centuries; he was also a useful medium pace bowler. His 1,387 List A runs for Worcestershire in 1991 is a record for the county.

He played eight Test matches for Australia between 1989 and 1992, although he had more success with Australia's one-day team, appearing in three World Cups and two finals - 1987 and 1999 - alongside Steve Waugh.

Since retirement, in 2001, Moody has coached, been an Australian cricketer's representative and for several years held the post of director of cricket with Worcestershire. In May 2005 he was considered for the post of coach to the Indian national cricket team but lost out to Greg Chappell. However, a few days later he was appointed coach of Sri Lanka. There has been speculation that he will quit this position at the end of the World Cup.