Jayawardene questions Moody rumour

Mahela Jayawardene believes Tom Moody has still not decided where he will coach after the World Cup, despite reports he was heading home to Perth to take the reins of Western Australia. However, Jayawardene said cricket was "only a game" and it was entirely up to Moody whether continuing with Sri Lanka was the right move.

Justin Langer said his decision to stand down as Western Australia's captain was in part based on a conversation with Moody that led him to believe Moody would replace the retiring Wayne Clark as the state's coach next season. A Western Australia spokeswoman said no final agreement had been reached over who would take over from Clark, but Moody was the preferred candidate.

Jayawardene questioned whether Langer had interpreted Moody's words correctly. "What has come out in the papers is not what Tom has told him [Langer]," Jayawardene said on AFP. Moody, who has repeatedly said he would not consider his future until after the World Cup, insisted again on Tuesday he had made no firm plans.

Jayawardene said he hoped Moody, who has been coaching Sri Lanka since June 2005, would remain in his current role. "Tom has been brilliant for us," he said.

"He's brought something different to the side and we've flourished. I don't have to tell the [Sri Lanka] board that. They know how valuable Tom is to us and I'm sure they'll do everything in their power to keep him."

Jayawardene said there would be no hard feelings from the players if Moody chose to move on. "He has said he wants to finish the World Cup with Sri Lanka and then decide," he said. "Cricket is only a game and there are other factors in life. At the end of the day, it's his decision."