Hussey backs Moody as Australian coach

SYDNEY: Batsman Michael Hussey wants Tom Moody to succeed John Buchanan as Australia's next coach when the job becomes vacant after the World Cup in April, reports said on Sunday.

The former Australian all-rounder has been coaching Sri Lanka for 18 months and been widely credited with the team's recent good form, including 11 wins from its past 13 one-day internationals.

"I know Tom well," Hussey told Sydney's Sun-Herald newspaper.

"He's a fantastic guy and very knowledgeable about the game of cricket. It would be great if he got the job. He's got good experience in England, coaching and playing -- played for Australia and now coaching the Sri Lankan team and doing great things with them."

Hussey said he spoke to Moody in India during the recent ICC Champions Trophy. "He was very focused on the Sri Lankan team, trying to get them to play well at the World Cup and wasn't looking beyond there."

Others in line to replace Buchanan include Bennett King, now coaching the West Indies, and Tim Nielsen, who took over from King at Australian cricket's Centre of Excellence.

Former Australian captain Greg Chappell, currently coaching India, has also been touted among the possible replacements. But Moody and Nielsen are considered the frontrunners for the appointment as coach of world cricket's leading Test and one-day teams.

A Cricket Australia committee, including former captains Mark Taylor and Allan Border, chief executive James Sutherland and operations manager Michael Brown, has been formed to choose the next coach.