Sri Lanka [Images] seem to have stolen a march over India in appointing a new national cricket coach, with the island nation approaching former Australia Test player Tom Moody to take over from incumbent John Dyson.

Moody is a contender for the Indian post, left vacant after the departure of New Zealand's [Images] John Wright [Images] at the end of the season, but the Board of Control for Cricket in India is yet to reveal the names of those who have applied for the job.

Also read: Coach selection process yet to start

Talks are still underway with Moody to take over the job held by Dyson, whose term ended last month, officials of the Interim Committee said on Wednesday.

The Australian, currently Director of Cricket with English county club Worcestershire, is being approached despite Sri Lanka's cricket administration being in a crisis.

The government last month sacked the elected office-bearers of Sri Lanka cricket for alleged financial mismanagement and replaced them with an Interim Committee.

Police, armed with AK-47 rifles, made a forced entry and took over the SLC offices in Colombo on Tuesday.

The elected office-bearers, led by Thilanga Sumathipala, are fighting a court battle against Sports Minister Jeevan Kumarathunga's authority to dissolve the cricket Board.