Ranatunga, who was an influential captain of the Sri Lankan team for 11 years up to 1999, fears Moody will return to Australia after next year's World Cup and take over from outgoing coach John Buchanan.

Former Australian all-rounder Moody and Australian Centre of Excellence coach Tim Nielsen are considered the leading candidates to replace Buchanan, who confirmed this week that he will quit following next year's World Cup after seven years in the position.

Ranatunga, a former minister in the Sri Lankan government, said Moody had shown great diplomacy and savvy when dealing with a complex Sri Lankan cricket board.

"With all the controversial things happening in Sri Lanka, it's very, very important with the cricket board changing that you can deal with this as all these things can affect the team," Ranatunga told Melbourne's Herald-Sun newspaper from Colombo Saturday.

"I thought he has handled everything very well. He has done a good job so far."

Moody also fits the criteria that Test cricket's leading wicket-taker Shane Warne wants in the next Australian coach.

"I don't have a preference but I would like to see someone in the job who has international playing experience and understands actually what the guys are going through," Warne said at the Australian team camp this week.

Moody played eight Tests for Australia between 1989 and 1992, scoring 456 runs at 32.57, and 76 one-day internationals between 1987-99.

Moody has presided over some excellent Sri Lankan performances since taking the job last year, including guiding the team into the finals of the tri series in Australia last summer, a recent drawn Test series in England and the subsequent 5-0 one-day series whitewash.

Ranatunga said he expected Cricket Australia to pursue Moody.

"Normally after the World Cup there are a few changes. I am sure he will get an offer from Australia," he said.

"That's normal procedure -- we train people, we get people in, then some other country will take them. I think he has been wonderful so far."