Buchanan hired by ECB to prepare for the Ashes

[Clarke]

Australia's former coach John Buchanan has been enlisted by the ECB to help England with their preparations for this winter's Ashes series. Buchanan, 57, was Australia's coach for eight years from 1999 to 2007, and signed off from the role by helping the team thrash England 5-0 to complete the first Ashes whitewash in 86 years. All told he won three out of four Ashes series, and two out of two World Cups, and on his watch Australia lost just two Test series - the 2005 Ashes, and the 2000-01 tour of India. Last summer Buchanan worked with the ECB on a consultancy basis ahead of their 2-1 victory in England, but according to the Sunday Telegraph, his brief on this occasion will be much wider. In particular, he will be asked to provide specific insights into Australia's senior players, not least Ricky Ponting, who was critical of Buchanan's involvement with England in 2009. Although his methods were not universally welcomed by the players with whom he worked - not least Shane Warne, who was and remains an especially vocal critic - Buchanan will provide key insight into the five venues where the Ashes will be contested, and along with the bowling coach, David Saker, will provide an invaluable Australian angle for England's strategists. Buchanan is expected to work with the England Under-19s during his time in the country, as well as David Parsons, the ECB's performance director, at Loughborough. It is also thought that he could link up with the squad when they land in Australia in November. "I can confirm that he is coming here this week," said an ECB spokesman. http://www.cricinfo.com/the-ashes-2010-11/content/current/story/471507.html :hysterical::hysterical: Are they nuts or wot :giggle:

[Bradman99]

What a dog.. Would be beneficial considering he has worked with the players for a long time, would know their weakenesses as well as most.

[Lord]

Ganguly must be laughing somewhere at Poms:hehe:

[anbuchelvan]

God save ECB:hysterical:

[Jadoo]

I remember when Holding asked Warne on Sky commentary what he thought and what Buchanan would bring to the table, Warne replied "Cluedo" and said the appointment will help OZ more than the Poms, lol.

[kabira]

Poms should kick goodbye to Ashes now.

[Tendulkar_Bhai]

What a traitor, if i was an AUssy id be livid tht a guy who is australian and has had so much success as coach is helping the opposition, its like Tendulkar helping Pakistan in India v Pakistan or even Wasim Akram helping Indian bowlers.(oh wait...he did!)

[vvvslaxman]

They should hire "Fake english player" also to rile up Buchanan.

[ZodiaC]

:hysterical: What a joke.

[cowboysfan]

england are a better team right now than australia.they need to make sure they are healthy going into the ashes.

[Zelig]

Didn't Duncan Fletcher help Mickey Arthur beat the Oz in 2008/09? :hmmm: Bring him back!

[Show_stopper]

Eng are a better team than Aus? Definitely not in Australian conditions + kookaburra ball.

[coffee_rules]

They want Aus to win the series. ICC has fixed the Ashes!

[cowboysfan]

Eng are a better team than Aus? Definitely not in Australian conditions + kookaburra ball.

I really think they are.They now have all bases covered and have no obvious weakness.however the better team always does not win as we found out in the Ashes in England.i expect it to be a close series though.

[King Tendulkar]

Lets hope it works better then aussies getting help of G Chappell before last India tour. As we handed them back their asses after 2-0 thumping!!! Strangely yob ponting did not mention his coaching lessons and inside info from Chappel from 2nd test onwards while very keen to speak about him after draw in 1st test. Just shows inside info etc etc is not all its cracked up to be!

[The Outsider]

I really think they are.They now have all bases covered and have no obvious weakness.however the better team always does not win as we found out in the Ashes in England.i expect it to be a close series though.

England have a few glaring weaknesses because of which they will be found out on Australian pitches : 1. To win on the flatter tracks in Australia, the batting needs to pile up really big totals. Not the 300-400 types, but the 450+ types. England does not have any batsman who has shown the propensity to score big hundreds, which is a requirement for such totals. 2. Their bowling will be severely tested in Australia. Anderson will be useless and so will Swann for the most part, except at second innings at Sydney and Adelaide. Between Broad and Finn, I don't see them taking 20 wickets very often. 3. Reverse swing is a non factor in Australia for the most part. After the 30 over mark, it is a dog's work to bowl with a Kookaburra in Australian conditions. There just isn't enough variety in their attack to be able to sustain an attack throughout an entire innings. My prediction is 3-1 or 2-1 to Australia with the English win coming at Sydney or maybe Adelaide if they give Swann a decent score to defend.

[King Tendulkar]

^ prior also has awful glove work!

[Manny_Pacquiao]

england does have batsmen that can make big scores. the problem will be with their bowling. i dont think they will find it easy to take wickets without their precious duke ball. then again, australia's batting lineup sucks at the moment, so it might still be an even contest.

[King Tendulkar]

england does have batsmen that can make big scores. the problem will be with their bowling. i dont think they will find it easy to take wickets without their precious duke ball. then again, australia's batting lineup sucks at the moment, so it might still be an even contest.

true thats why it maybe close, with aussies just edging it in the poorest standard of ashes in around 20 years

[The Outsider]

england does have batsmen that can make big scores.

Since the 2005 Ashes in England, they have managed 450+ run scores only on 4 occasions in 60 innings against the top sides - Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and India : http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/team/1.html?class=1;filter=advanced;opposition=2;opposition=3;opposition=6;opposition=8;orderby=start;runsmin1=450;runsval1=runs;spanmax1=09+Aug+2010;spanmin1=15+Sep+2005;spanval1=span;template=results;type=team;view=innings And only 7 400+ scores out of 60 innings : http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/team/1.html?class=1;filter=advanced;opposition=2;opposition=3;opposition=6;opposition=8;orderby=start;runsmin1=400;runsval1=runs;spanmax1=09+Aug+2010;spanmin1=15+Sep+2005;spanval1=span;template=results;type=team;view=innings To be able to do well in Australia, it's absolutely crucial to be able to put up big scores. First innings there are usually the 400 plays 400 kinds.