Cricket World Cup: Moody Primed to Banish the Coaching Blues

This World Cup has been such a watershed that it is conceivable that every major nation will contest their next series with a new coach at the helm. A tournament that has failed to capture the imagination in England has certainly had an impact on the quiet. Bennett King, the West Indies coach, joined the list of resignations yesterday that already includes Duncan Fletcher at England, Greg Chappell at India, and, with an eye to greater things, Dav Whatmore at Bangladesh.

Australia's forward planning was so efficient that John Buchanan confirmed his retirement well before the World Cup and has since committed himself to managing a triumphant farewell. Micky Arthur's chances of retaining his South Africa post are good but could be undermined by a heavy defeat against Australia in St Lucia tomorrow. The reverberations from Bob Woolmer's suspected murder will hound Pakistan cricket for years.

That leaves the coaches of today's first semi-final between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Kingston: the less glamorous tie for many which is largely assumed will produce the World Cup runners-up.

Both have advanced their reputations, maximising resources in a manner that puts English cricket to shame. But John Bracewell is expected to relinquish his role when his New Zealand contract expires in August, and Tom Moody is poised to abandon Sri Lanka for Western Australia and a more balanced family life. It is these two coaches, who have pushed their sides to the limit of their potential, who will be most difficult to replace.

Daniel Vettori, the left-arm spinner, expanded on the underdog semi-final yesterday. "I suppose people always see us punching above our weight, which falls in nicely with the New Zealand psyche, so we will play on that a little bit within ourselves," he said. New Zealand feel permanently in Australia's shadow and the same is true for Sri Lanka with India.

Bracewell was fortunate to inherit Stephen Fleming. "Everyone respects him as a leader," said Vettori, Fleming's likely successor. "To come into the job at 23 and captain the side for such a long time is pretty amazing."

Moody has been equally lucky that Sri Lanka Cricket belatedly appointed Mahela Jayawardene, who has proved to be more driven than many perceived and whose sage leadership has contributed hugely to a contented Sri Lanka side playing shrewd, percentage cricket.

New Zealand hope that today's Sabina Park pitch will have decent bounce and carry, although it is unlikely to be as green as the one on which Ireland beat Pakistan: so green, according to one Ireland official, that they imagined it a celebration of St Patrick's Day. And, if it is lively, New Zealand will expect Shane Bond to slip himself for the first time while Sri Lanka have the slingy pace of Lasith Malinga back again.

Jaywardene remarked: "It doesn't look that quick to me. But we have adjusted to the conditions pretty well. I have lost the toss most of the time, but we have fought for each other. We have played more big games and that should help us."

New Zealand have reached four World Cup semi-finals and never won one. Fleming insists: "Before we have not always believed that we should have been there. This time we feel worthy and, from a confidence point of view, that is a big shift."

New Zealand, overly reliant on Scott Styris's runs to remedy mediocre starts, lost to Sri Lanka by six wickets in the Super Eights. Unless Jayawardene loses a bad toss today, it is hard to see past Sri Lanka.