On the 27 July, 1990, the former Australian international cricketer, coach and commentator, Tom Moody, scored a world record 100 runs in 26 minutes in a first-class county cricket match.
Born in Adelaide, South Australia, in 1965, he was educated at the Guildford Grammar School in Perth, where his father was headmaster. As a boy he exhibited a talent for athletics, particularly the high jump, and Australian rules football, but he truly excelled at cricket. He was selected to train with the 1st XI side, usually made up of year twelve students, at the age of just thirteen, and played with them the following year.
Upon leaving school he moved into Western Australian Grade Cricket with the Midland-Guildford team, and in the winter months sought overseas experience as a young professional in the Northern Leagues in England.
‘Long Tom’ Moody, so nicknamed for his six foot six inch height, began his first-class career in the 1985-1986 season with Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield, and also played in England with Warwickshire CCC [1990] and Worcestershire CCC [1991-1999]. Captaining Western Australia and Worcester to various trophies.
An aggressive and fast scoring batsman, Moody scored over 20,000 runs in first-class cricket, including 64 centuries. He was also a useful medium pace bowler.
Moody made his Test cricket debut in 1989 against New Zealand, and played eight Test matches for Australia before his last against Sri Lanka in 1992. He had more success with Australia’s ODI team, his first appearance coming in 1987 against India. He appeared in three World Cups, including two finals in 1987 and 1999.
Although it is claimed he earned even more success when in 1989 he threw a haggis a distance of 230 feet !
In 1994, along with Tim Curtis the pair set the record for the highest ever partnership for the 3rd wicket in List A cricket history, scoring 309 not out.
Since retirement in 2001, Moody has served as a coach, been an Australian cricketer’s representative, and for several years held the post of Director of Cricket with Worcestershire CCC. In May 2005 he was appointed coach of the Sri Lankan national team and led them to the final of the 2007 World Cup before leaving the post.
He then began cricket commentary around the world, as well as covering some Australian Test and ODI Cricket for Channel Nine, and the Big Bash League for Channel Ten.
Moody still regularly commentates on both television and radio throughout the Australian international and domestic season.
In 2007, Moody was appointed as manager and head coach of the Western Warriors. And in December 2012, it was announced that Moody would coach the new IPL Sunrisers Hyderabad team, over the course of the next 6 seasons, the Sunrisers reached the qualifier rounds five times and won the championship in 2016.
27 July, 2019