Moody confident of better display in India

Tom Moody, the Sri Lankan coach, has said his focus lay was firmly on Sri Lankan cricket, and clarified that he had not given much thought to the news that he is one of the main candidates to take over as the next coach of the Australian team.

"I haven't been paying too much notice to it. It's one of those things where there is always going to be speculation when vacancies in particular positions become available," said Moody. "My name along with a number of other names has been thrown up. As far as I am concerned my main focus and concentration lies here with Sri Lanka. The Champions Trophy is the most important thing on my mind. I have had very little distraction with regards to that."

Mahela Jayawardene, the Sri Lanka captain, echoed Moody's views: "As far as we know Tom has told us that he is not going anywhere. It has not become a point of discussion and it has hardly affected the team's preparations."

Ever since Australian coach John Buchanan announced that he was quitting from his post at the end of the 2007 World Cup, the names of Moody, Greg Chappell and Tim Nielsen, the coach of the Australian Centre of Excellence, have been thrown up as the likely candidates.

Looking ahead to the Champions Trophy, Moody expressed confidence that Sri Lanka would be around during the latter stages of the tournament. "At the beginning of any competition I go into, I feel confident," he said. "What gives me the confidence is our thorough preparation, the improvement of the individuals in the team and improvement of the side in general. The team carries a lot more confidence away from home than they have done in the past. There confidence and self belief is quite evident away from home now."

Moody also stated that Sri Lanka were a completely different team to the one that lost in India 6-1 last year. "The team is different in mental, technical and physical state of mind than what they were 12 months ago. It's not a huge issue if it is India or any other team we have to beat. We need to worry about our game and execute it as best as possible. The results will take care of themselves," Moody said.

"The conditions over there are a little bit different to what we face here in Sri Lanka. The wickets can be a little bit slower than here. From a bowling point of view it can be hard work. There is a smaller margin for error. Unless your line and length are absolutely right you can disappear over there. All our bowlers have discussed this and worked hard on it."