ECB snubs Moody, asks Fletcher to continue as long as he wants

Sydney, Apr 5 (UNI) ECB has snubbed former Australian allrounder Tom Moody's contention to coach England and reposed its faith in Duncan Fletcher stating that the Zimbabwean may continue on the million-dollar-a-year job ''as long as he wants''.

Clearing all speculations, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) spokesman Colin Gibson said Moody had not been approached to replace Fletcher as coach.

''We've got a very fine coach in Duncan Fletcher, who is paid one million dollar a year,'' Gibson was quoted as saying by 'The Australian'.

''He's got a year-to-year rolling contract. He's got the job with England for as long as he wishes.'' Moody, 41, was tipped to replace Fletcher after the latter had a horrible tour of Australia where his side was whitewashed 5-0 in the Ashes. However, they bounced back to finish off the Australian summer on a high note by defeating the arch-rivals in the finals of the Commonwealth Bank series.

Interestingly, under the guidance of Moody, the Lankans have defeated the English in their last six encounter, but it seems eventually it did not prove to be enough to earn the Australian the high profile job.

The speculations are rife that Moody can now throw in his hat for the India job vacated by Greg Chappell two years after he was pipped by fellow Australian for the high profile post.

UNI