Former Australia coach says he's happy to stay with IPL side Kolkata Knight Riders
Former Australia coach John Buchanan has ruled himself out of reckoning to manage the England cricket team, insisting that he is committed to Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League for the time being.
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Buchanan was being wooed by Hugh Morris, Managing Director of the England Cricket Board, to become the successor of Peter Moores during the Ashes series against arch-rivals Australia.
"It is very flattering of the ECB, through Hugh Morris, to suggest my name as a possibility for a role with English cricket, but it is extremely unlikely for me to accept a full-time coaching role for a number of reasons," Buchanan said.
"I have not chatted with (Morris) about the England coaching job, and in terms of coaching against Australia in the Ashes? No. I wouldn't have thought that was something I'd want to do," he told Cricinfo.
"I am not sure I could travel that road again... and indeed with another country," Buchanan, who guided Australia to win the World Cup, said.
Regarding his stint with IPL, Buchanan said he felt privileged to be part of a competition that could change the game of cricket. "I believe cricket needs change and I want to help IPL achieve that change," said Buchanan who had coached Middlesex in 1998.
Buchanan's decision ought to come as a blow to Morris who had yesterday heaped praise on the Australian. "John Buchanan of Australia has won 75 per cent of matches at all levels, far more than anyone in the history of the game," Morris had said.
"We are looking for the best man for the job, someone who can create a positive atmosphere for the team, manage people well, manage coaches well, perhaps coach as well, and I'm confident we will find the right person to do that."
Morris, though, hasn't given up hope on getting an Australian on board to plot the defeat of Ricky Ponting's team and Geoff Lawson and Tom Moody seem to be in fray. Former Pakistan coach Lawson has already been sounded out but refused to comment while Moody said he was happy at Western Australia. "I am receiving plenty of media calls, but I can assure you that I am happy coaching in Western Australia," the former Sri Lanka coach said.
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