BIRMINGHAM, England // John Buchanan, the former Australia coach, has been appointed as a consultant by England to help Andrew Strauss's team win the Ashes in Australia for the first time in 24 years. Buchanan, 57, coached his country to three successful Ashes campaigns from 2001 to 2006-07 (when Australia won 5-0), losing just once in 2005. He also aided the Australians in two triumphant World Cups in 2003 and 2007.
England regained the Ashes in 2009 but have not won a Test series in Australia since Mike Gatting led them to that honour in 1986-87. The first Test starts in Brisbane on November 25. "I can confirm John Buchanan will be arriving in the next 48 hours," an England spokesman told Reuters on Sunday. Buchanan, who also coached Middlesex in English county cricket, will assist Andy Flower, the England team director, in his plans.
He will not be the first Australian to be part of the England set-up. Troy Cooley helped develop England's pace attack into a formidable unit for the 2005 Ashes series while David Saker, the Victorian, is England's current bowling coach. Buchanan is renowned for his technical theories and use of psychology, but has divided opinion. Shane Warne, the ex-Australia leg-spinner, remains an outspoken critic of Buchanan's coaching approach.
* Reuters