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Sealed and delivered, only to be signed
By Marlon Fernandopulle
Thirty-nine-year-old former Australian test cricketer Tom Moody will return to the place where he played his last Test inning. He will arrive in Sri Lanka this week for a formal interview with officials of Sri Lanka Cricket’s Interim Committee to finalize his contract as Sri Lanka's new cricket coach.

SLC 's Interim Committee Secretary Tryphon Mirando who has been negotiating with Moody confirmed to The Sunday Times last evening that Moody will be arriving shortly. "Moody is expected this week. He will give us the date of his arrival to Sri Lanka very shortly. There are a few areas in the contract that has to be ironed out. It is more or less finalized with him, but we need to talk and agree on a few things before placing the signatures on the contract".

The tall six foot six inch allrounder lost out to Greg Chappell, another Australian, for India's coaching job a few days ago following an interview in New Delhi with Indian authorities. Although it was speculated that Moody will arrive in Sri Lanka straight from New Delhi, the Australian has flown back to England.

Interim Committee Secretary Tryphon Mirando first commenced negotiations with Moody in England three weeks ago. Since then Mirando admitted that they have been in constant touch with the Australian and this week’s interview, The Sunday Times learns is only a formality.

Moody is expected to be interviewed not only by members of the Interim Committee but also by some of the newly appointed Sri Lanka Cricket’s Cricket Committee. Former Sri Lanka Captain Arjuna Ranatunge has already been appointed Chairman of SLC's cricket committee. The other members are Micheal Tissera, Anura Tennekoon, Duleep Mendis, Bandula Warnapura, Ranjan Madugalle, Roshan Mahanama and Graeme Labrooy.

Moody, who played eight Tests and 76 one-day internationals for Australia, is currently the director of cricket at Worcestershire. He has been linked to several coaching jobs in recent months, including England and India. According to IC Chairman Dharmadasa, Moody is expected to take charge immediately and his contract will go upto the 2007 world cup. Although Moody is currently the Director of the English county Worcestershire, Interim committee sources confirmed that Moody can exit from that position immediately to take up his appointment with Sri Lanka.

India's recruitment of Greg Chappell as their new coach leaves Sri Lanka poised to sign up his fellow Australian Tom Moody. A deal is expected to be finalised early next week after a formal interview on Monday or Tuesday.

Sri Lanka had been forced to put their own recruitment process on hold because of India's interest in both Moody and Chappell, the two favourites to take the Sri Lanka job after several weeks of discussions with a range of possible candidates.

Moody was considered Sri Lanka's first-choice candidate anyway, because Chappell's other work commitments might have affected his availability between tours, and board sources have privately expressed their delight that Moody is now available.

"We hope to have an interview with Tom early next week, probably on Monday and Tuesday," Jayantha Dharmadasa, the Chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket, told Cricinfo on Friday. Moody is expected to travel to Colombo over the weekend. Sri Lanka have already had preliminary discussions regarding possible terms, and the interview is expected to be a mere formality.

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