 By IANS
Sydney : Tom Moody Monday resigned as coach of the Sri Lanka team and will take up the same position with Western Australia.
Moody declined to renew his contract with the World Cup runners-up team to return home to Australia in a three-year deal.
"It was a very difficult decision to make, given the strong relationship that has been built between Sri Lanka Cricket and myself," said Moody.
"But at this stage in my life it was important that I made a bigger commitment to my family.
"However, I will be more than happy to assist in whichever way I possibly can for the continuous success of Sri Lanka Cricket. I am extremely proud of my involvement with Western Australia cricket as a player and the success we enjoyed as a team throughout the 1980s and 1990s," he said.
"I am looking forward to working with former team-mates such as Graeme Wood and Justin Langer."
Moody, the 41-year-old who was part of the World Cup winning Australian team in 1999, was in charge of Sri Lanka for two years and was credited with the improvement in the team's performance.
Trevor Penney, who worked with Moody as assistant coach for Sri Lanka, will also join Western Australia under him.
"We have been able to secure an internationally respected mentor with an impeccable record and in the prime of his coaching career," said Wood, chief executive of the Western Australian Cricket Association.
Moody will take up his new role 1 July.
"Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) regrets that Tom Moody has to leave our services and respects his decision. SLC is grateful to Tom for his valuable contributions to the success of the national and SLC during his tenure. We wish him all the success in his future endeavours," the Sri Lankan cricket board said in a statement.