The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : ‘Job is to get the best out of the players’

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‘Job is to get the best out of the players’

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: His coaching methods were simple and innovative and results astounding. John Buchanan, a renowned coach of the successful Australian team under Steve Waugh, set new benchmarks in his field before bowing out gracefully when still on a high.

At a function held at the Australian High Commission here on Friday to promote his motivational book If Better Is Possible the affable Aussie spoke about his stint. He was modest when he said, “Motivation is something that comes from within. If I am not able to get the best out of my players, then my job should be under review. As a coach my job is to provide the players an environment to help them achieve their ambitions. The desire to try and improve is important. If I can change it fine or else it would be time for me to go.”

Challenging job

He observed that he had a challenging job at Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). “I want to develop KKR as the best franchise team. We are also looking for the right people and talent. Of course there is the Bollywood aura too but then we don’t have history to fall back on. We are the ones to initiate and set benchmarks.”

Buchanan feels cricket needed something like Twenty20. “It was much needed. It (the success) is in front of us. People who watch have an opinion and there is a huge interest. I think the administrators are the key people here. They have to balance the two forms of the game. 20-20 is something that can be watched in New York too. It is certainly beneficial for cricket. These are exciting times for Indian and world cricket.”

Would Buchanan, who coached Australia for eight years and was rated high for his computer-aided analysis of every ball, be tempted to return to coach the Australian team? “I don’t want to go back to coaching a national team. I don’t have the energy level to match it and I don’t think I would have much impact on the team.”

A buffer

In response to Shane Warne’s comment that international teams did not really need a coach, Buchanan smiled, “A coach is the buffer to support and protect the players. It is needed because coaching is a huge task even if some people boast and have you believe otherwise. As far as I am concerned, preparations are individualised. Take Matthew Hayden. If he had his way he would just turn up on the day of the match, ready to play; ready tactically, mentally, technically. You would find him spot on. But then there are other players as well who are different. An international team needs a coach.”

Buchanan, who has a degree in human movements, a teaching diploma and Master of Arts in sports administration, had kind words for Sourav Ganguly. “He is an achiever, an icon in Bengal. I think he has done some incredible things. ”

The book, published in India by Orient Paperbacks, is a behind-the-scene story of how Australia won a record 16 successive Tests in four countries and won two World Cups.

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