What is with John Buchanan. Australia were on the verge of a defeat at Old Trafford. England were about to go 2-1 up in the series, which no one ever imagined not even the English. And now rather making sure that Australian players won’t repeat the mistakes which could cost them the Ashes after 18 years of invincibility, he is still continously busy giving stupid statements like the one he gave today. We know that playing mind games has been a part of every major series involving Australia but please for god sake and heaven sake don’t be so ignorant. Can’t he simply accept the fact that Egland is playing better cricket and that they didn’t see that coming. Buchanan either is in denial or otherwise really high on pot these days.
ENGLAND’S FLAWS REMAIN - BUCHANAN
John Buchanan, the Australian coach, has said that England’s weaknesses that he spotted during the NatWest Series were still obvious even though England has been dominant in the last two Tests at Edgbaston and Old Trafford.
He said that Michael Vaughan and Andrew Strauss were let off early in their innings after which they proceeded to score centuries at Old Trafford. “I know England are saying ‘gee, isn’t it amazing Australia are happy to get a draw these days?’,” Buchanan was quoted as saying by sportinglife.com. “But in the course of a series things develop and we could talk about Ricky Ponting’s innings, what Brett Lee did throughout the Manchester match, Shane Warne again and we saw the failures of Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff with the bat.”
Buchanan maintained that Australia had created winning opportunities all through the series and it was just a matter of taking advantage of them. “We created chances from the top order, we have all summer. So there are lots of good things there - it is now a matter of sticking it all together. The win will only come from us doing the things we can do well; we probably haven’t stuck all that together that well so that is our major focus, to put our game together and deliver throughout the whole Test.”
I agree, it's hardly fitting for a coach to point out flaws in the opposition when they have just been whooped 2 tests in a row by that very opposition. But Buchanan isn't the sort of coach who runs his mouth. This is what pressure does.
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Buchanan maintained that Australia had created winning opportunities all through the series and it was just a matter of taking advantage of them.
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I agree with John Buchanan, i mean just look at the previous two test matches England had a cousion of 102 runs and in the end they won by two, Shane Warne was hitting and they were droping catches. In this test too they had a chance in the fifth day and they couldn't win. Ricky Pointing got support from Warne and Lee that's it, in the end they tied the Test match. I may be wrong but England lacks the killer instinct and they just can't close out Test match like Australia did in the first one.
I wonder what bunannan will say after losing the Ashes at the end of the 5th test.
“Even though we got our butt kicked this summer but the good news is that I have spotted few more weaknesses in the english squad. We will work on them for the next Ashes provided if English don’t cheat by kicking our butt again next time”
Mr Lee has performed exceptionally in second innings of second and fourth tests and he should concentrate on that rather than finding chinks in england armor.
Since the picture cant be uploaded, i am pasting the link for the picture.
That picture was taken when Buchanan told ponting that he won’t be giving any more stupid statements otherwise people will start calling him a Pothead. He also suggested that ponting sohuld be mentally prepared to be the first australian loser captain in last 18 years of Ashes history.
On realizing what Buchanan was saying, ponting burst into tears (sorry that picture was not taken). At that point Bret Lee offered his services to ponting and said that he will take over buchanan job of BS for the next 2 weeks.
Thats a good one. I still remember McGrath saying that ‘we appreciate England’s growing stature but Australia will win by 5-0’