Tom Moody claimed to have become immune to Sri Lankan cricket’s politics as he sought to prepare his side for the first Test at Lord’s while his own chairman of selectors was questioning his competence and rubbishing the opening batsmen who must do battle with England.

Moody denied reports on Wednesday that he had lodged an official complaint against Ashantha de Mel, the outspoken new chairman of selectors, but he did phone a leading official in Sri Lanka Cricket to express dismay at the disruptive comments emanating from Colombo.

De Mel, a former Sri Lanka fast bowler who was appointed only last Friday, called for Sanath Jayasuriya to make an emergency return to Test cricket if Sri Lanka’s openers Michael Vandort and Upul Tharanga fail at Lord’s, leaving Moody, the coach, to try to protect them from the political fall-out.

De Mel also blamed Moody for Sri Lanka’s slide down the Test and one-day rankings, saying: "We were number two in the world rankings when John Dyson was coach and since Tom Moody took over last year we have slipped to number six. I wonder whether Tom is the right candidate."

Moody, aware that De Mel during a previous incarnation as chairman of selectors had also lambasted Dyson for not blooding young players, shrugged it off, saying: "It is not ideal but it is something that you tend to become immune to. There are various challenges you face and this is just another one. I have lodged no complaint.

"It is important that we just focus on five days’ cricket at Lord’s. You get tested in various ways as a coach and managing these situations is even more important. That is one of the attractions that drew me to the job. It is another challenge that we will deal with and move on."

Sri Lanka Cricket officials responded to Moody’s phone call by requesting a lengthy clear-the-air meeting with De Mel, who had complained: "Any bowling attack would love to bowl at Tharanga and Vandort instead of Jayasuriya. If these guys don’t do well in the first Test it’s prudent to send Sanath to play the remainder of the series. He’s a proven player and still has a lot of cricket left in him."

Moody was left to assert that the Sri Lankan batsmen in England can cope with the challenges of early-season swing and seam. "Since taking the job I have been surprised by how well Sri Lanka’s batsmen deal with pace bowling," he said. "They don’t mind facing the guys like Shane Bond and Brett Lee and people with a bit of pace on board. They hook and cut well and will welcome any sort of bounce and pace. I don’t think anyone is going to be bowling that quickly."

In the background was Arjuna Ranatunga, Sri Lanka’s streetfighting former captain, an MP for the ruling People’s Alliance and someone with ambitions to be sports minister. "We knew he was in town and it was a chance for younger players to pick his brain about cricket," Moody said. Moody would have been wise to pick his brain about politics.