Moody explains his decision to take on Worcestershire role, and retires as a player

Tom Moody has explained his decision to take up the role of Director of Cricket at Worcester, and has announced his retirement as a player at the end of the Australian season.

Moody admitted that he had been approached by Middlesex, but felt that the combination of the attractive rural setting of Worcestershire, his history at the club and the extensive role he has been offered at New Road, was an opportunity too good to miss. No doubt the current plight of the London club was also a factor.

Moody enjoyed eight seasons at Worcestershire, moving there in 1991 after his first English club, Warwickshire, choose Donald as their overseas player despite Moody's achievements (seven centuries in 15 innings) for the Birmingham based club. He took over the Worcestershire captaincy from Tim Curtis in late 1995.

"The role I have been offered at Worcester means I will have total control of the direction of cricket at the club," Moody explained. "Living in a village near Worcester, which we probably will do, is more appealing than being in the centre of London."

"I enjoyed my playing days with the county and I am very excited to be able to play a part in taking the club forward again," he continued. "There is a great advantage in knowing the dressing-room set-up and knowing many of the players and understanding their individual needs."

Moody also ruled out the possibility of filling the overseas player role at the club, explaining that his on-field career was almost over. "Worcester will be an eight-month-a-year job, so this has to be my last season with Western Australia," he admitted. "The timing is right for me because it was about time I stepped out as a player and looked at other options."

Moody has played eight Tests and 76 one-day internationals for Australia, including a role in the world cup winning side of 1999.

In a weaker age of Australian cricket, or if he had been born in any other country, Moody would have had a much longer Test career. He hit a century in just his second Test, against Sri Lanka in 1989-90, and won a reputation as a destroyer of anything but the very best bowling. He hit one of the fastest ever first-class centuries (26 minutes against Glamorgan in 1990, but against 'declaration' bowling), and struck 30 runs from an Adrian Tucker over in 1990-91 at Sydney. His strength is perhaps best demonstrated by the bizarre fact that he holds the world record for haggis throwing - 230 feet.

His medium-paced bowling was particularly useful in one-day cricket, where he used his height to cramp the batsmen and restrict scoring. He has represented Western Australia in more games than any other player, and has captained them with success.