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Australian cricket team’s coach John Buchanan, who presided over a golden era in Australian cricket, has confirmed he will quit after next year’s World Cup in the Caribbean.

Buchanan, who has been coach for seven years since replacing Geoff Marsh in 1999, had his contract extended after last year’s Ashes series loss in England.

But Buchanan, 53, said there was a “shelf life” in coaching and he felt after the World Cup was an appropriate time for him to step down. “There’s a good foundation of systems and processes for the next coach to shape the future of the Australian cricket team,” Buchanan said in a Cricket Australia (CA) statement on Monday.

“There’s a shelf life in coaching and I believe that following the World Cup it will be the appropriate time to hand over the reins to someone new. My absolute focus however is the upcoming summer of cricket. I am extremely excited about the challenges we face with the ICC Champions Trophy, the Ashes and one-day international series and the 2007 World Cup,” he said.

“This summer is a significant moment in Australian cricket’s history. We are playing three huge tournaments in a brief period of time with a view to winning them all.” Buchanan said he would sit down with CA officials after the March 5-April 28 World Cup and discuss what future contribution he could make.

Buchanan has presided over a golden era in Australian cricket. Under Buchanan, Australia had a 75 percent success rate in Test cricket from 85 Tests. England are next best with 46.15 percent from 91 Tests.

He took over when Australia were one match into what was to become a world record streak of 16 consecutive Test wins between October 1999 and March 2001. During Buchanan’s tenure Australia have won 24 Test series, drawn one and lost two — in India in 2000-01 and last year’s Ashes loss in England.

In one-day cricket, Australia enjoyed 74 percent success from 182 games, well ahead of next best Pakistan with 58 percent from their 193 games. Australia also won a record 21 consecutive One-day Internationals (ODIs) in early 2003, including a clean sweep of 11 matches in the World Cup in South Africa.

CA Chief Executive James Sutherland praised Buchanan’s contribution to Australian cricket and said the process of appointing a new coach would begin soon. “John has had extraordinary success as the national coach during his tenure and has given an enormous amount to the game in this time,” Sutherland said. “The success he has helped achieve is a driving force behind cricket’s continued growth in this country and one that we are extremely grateful for.”

Sutherland said his organisation was keen to have Buchanan’s continued involvement in the game beyond the World Cup. “CA will be instigating a management committee next month to start the search process for a new coach,” he said.

Sri Lankan coach Tom Moody, head coach of Australia’s centre of excellence Tim Nielsen, Indian coach Greg Chappell and Dav Whatmore, now coaching Bangladesh, are among those mentioned to replace Buchanan.

But India’s cricket chiefs subsequently dismissed suggestions that Chappell’s contract would not be renewed after next year’s World Cup. Seventeen players made their Test debuts in Buchanan’s time, among them outstanding wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist and fast bowler Brett Lee.
Source:The News