By IANS
Kolkata : John Buchanan, former Australian cricket coach, feels the Indian national selectors are ‘securing’ the future of Indian cricket by picking a young side, which vindicated them by winning the Tri-series Down Under.
Talking to the reporters here, Buchanan said, “The three senior cricketers (Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid) will not be around always. So it is important to pick a fresh side with an eye on the future. The selectors have done that and are in a way securing the future of Indian cricket.”
“India are a good ODI and Twenty20 side. But for the Test side to fully evolve (it) will take a little time,” he added.
Asked to comment on Ishant Sharma, he said, “He is a loveable cricketer. He is a good athlete and has a nice pace and a good body. But it would be important to keep him injury free, so that he serves Indian cricket for at least a decade.”
On whether a sudden retirement of so many cricketers has created a vacuum in the Australian side, he said, “No I don’t think so. We have a few very talented cricketers coming up. And it would be wrong to write off Australia on the basis of one series after what they have done for the last decade.”
“I think spin is the only place that is a little concern after Shane Warne and Brad Hogg both retiring. With Adam Gilchrist’s retirement Bradley James Haddin will now get a chance to play more regularly. He is a good keeper and a fine batsman who can bat anywhere from one to seven. He has also proved himself with the limited opportunity he has got.”
He added, there are some fine cricketers coming up too like Adam Voges, Shaun Marsh and Luke Ronchy. Ronchy is a keeper batsman, while Voges is a batsman and Shaun is a batting all-rounder who can bowl left-arm orthodox.
Buchanan also disgreed with the suggestion that Ricky Ponting should now concentrate on his game and give up captaincy. He said, “Ricky Ponting has done a fantastic job as a captain. The team should support him in the bad times now. He will get over it soon.”
On whether all the bad blood seen during the series Down Under have its effects in IPL, he said, “I don’t think so. It happens during a series. But here it will be clubs and a mix of international players. It wont be a problem.”
On Shane Warne’s comments on him, Buchanan said, “Everyone knows how (Shane) Warne operates. He says it as it comes to him. He is a champion on the field. Let’s leave out his life off the field.”