Australia’ Watson says team unfazed by Buchanan’s shift in loyalty

LEICESTER - Australia’s cricketers have said that they are not to too bothered about appointment of their former coach John Buchanan to a consultancy role with the ECB.

According to Australian all-rounder Shane Watson,Buchanan’s temporary defection to England, was greeted without indignation in the Australian camp, with Watson believing the former national coach’s presence will have little bearing on the Ashes result.

Watson said Buchanan’s appointment was a reality of modern cricket in which information flows freely around the world, and even suggested Australia would hold the advantage because of the presence of Troy Cooley, the bowling coach who helped the England quicks topple the Australians on English soil in 2005 and then returned to his native Australia.

“Coaches these days are able to coach around the world,” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Watson, as saying.

“For example, Troy [Cooley] and Rod Marsh were at the Australian cricket academy and then went over to help the English out. I think it’s great for world cricket to be able to use the knowledge, and it can work both ways.

We’ve got Troy to be able to make the most of the information he got from coaching the England [quicks],” he added.

“We’ve had two years with Tim Nielsen now and obviously John Buchanan has coached Kolkata and done some other things as well, so to me it’s part of his job and what he is trying to do as a coach, to get around and help people out whether it’s Australia-wide or internationally. He’s got great experience so I think that’s his call and we’re lucky to have Troy on our side now,” Watson said.

Asked whether the Australians would be disappointed if Buchanan divulged information gleaned during his eight-year tenure as Australia’s most successful coach, Watson said: “Not at all. There are no real secrets to what we do in the Australian team. It’s just the way we prepare … I don’t think it’s rocket science, what he’ll be able to give them, anyway.”

Buchanan’s assignment will focus predominantly on England’s junior teams and the England Lions. He is expected to spend time at the academy in Loughborough and meet coach Andy Flower, but has hinted at an expansion of his role.

“This trip will be largely about looking at the coaching programs, and working with the under-19s and the Lions team,” Buchanan said. (ANI)