da dobrowin： MELBOURNE – Australian cricket team coach John Buchanan has been stripped ofhis role as a tour selector ahead of the Ashes tour
Ben Packham10-May-2001MELBOURNE – Australian cricket team coach John Buchanan has been stripped ofhis role as a tour selector ahead of the Ashes tour.Australian Cricket Board Chief Executive Malcolm Speed today confirmed thedecision after informing Buchanan.”I spoke to John about that yesterday. That was a decision made by the boardof directors on Friday on the recommendation of the national selectors,”Speed said.He said the decision was taken because it was felt there could be someconflict between the roles of coach and selector on tour.”What the selectors are keen to promote is they want John to be quiteindependent of the selection process, they want the players to be able to goto John and say ‘Look, I’m struggling with this part of my game’ … andit’s not held against them in the selection process,” Speed said.”They need to do that in a full, frank, open way without feeling that thatmay be something that ends up at the selection table and works to theirdetriment.”Speed said Buchanan had not welcomed the news that he had been dropped fromthe panel to select teams while on tour, which has previously comprised thecaptain, vice-captain and coach in consultation with the chairman ofselectors.”It’s fair to say I think that John doesn’t see that as the ideal situation,but he will (still) have significant input to the selection process,” hesaid.”He’ll be consulted by the captain, the vice-captain and the chairman ofselectors.”Buchanan came under fire for criticising Shane Warne’s fitness during therecent Indian tour and publicly suggesting his Test spot could be in doubtand officials privately moved to rein him in.It led to a debate about whether the Australian coach should be abehind-the-scenes mentor or also act as a spokesman for the team, similar tofootball coaches.Speed said a number of past coaches had also been selectors, but: “I thinkit was recognised as a problem.””What we’re saying to John is: ‘You’re the coach of the team. You have avery important role to perform there. It’s going well at the moment. Focuson the coaching and leave it to the captain, the vice-captain and theselectors to pick the team on tour.’.”Captain Steve Waugh said he was disappointed with the decision, sayingBuchanan offered an added perspective to selection decisions.”I respect the decision that everyone has made but from a personal point ofview, I would have liked to have seen him stay,” Waugh told reporters.”I just think he does a good job and he comes from a bit of a differentperspective.”The coaches … they’re watching things from off the field and seeing howeach individual operates.”Asked if he believed there was a conflict between the roles of coach andselector, Waugh said: “I hope not, because it means (the players) won’t becoming to me because I’m still a selector and I’m the captain. I wantplayers to come to me.”I think we’ve got a pretty open and honest side and I would expect thatthat shouldn’t be a problem, and I don’t really think it has been a problemin the past.”He added that the loss of Buchanan as a selector put extra pressure on himand Adam Gilchrist, but “that’s why we are there … you’re expected to makedecisions”.Waugh said Buchanan’s role in the team would not be diminished.”His primary role is as a coach, a selector was only on tour anyway.”It’s something he would have liked to have done, but it’s not there anymoreand his role is as the coach and he will continue to do that well.”