Former Australian coach John Buchanan has denied suggestions of treachery amid reports he has met with English officials to help plot their strategy for next month's Ashes series.
Former Australian coach John Buchanan has denied suggestions of treachery amid reports he has met with English officials to help plot their strategy for next month's Ashes series.
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A London newspaper reported that Buchanan had held a series of meetings with England officials and coaching staff last week about their Ashes tactics.
The Sunday Telegraph said it would be seen as "an act of treachery by many Australians, given Buchanan's intimate knowledge of this Australian side."
Buchanan's advisory contract with Cricket Australia has not been renewed, leaving him free to work with other countries.
While defending his right to act as a coaching consultant, he has denied his talks involved leaking information for Ashes game plans.
"I did meet with them but we did not discuss their Ashes strategy," Buchanan told Sydney's Daily Telegraph newspaper today.
"We mainly talked about the Twenty20 game and the development of their centre of excellence.
"It was basically a continuation of the work I had done (earlier this year) when I spoke to the English Lions team in New Zealand."
Buchanan (56) said he had nothing to apologise for, given that coaching had become a global profession and Australian coaches were in demand.
"We have seen that with (Australian) Eddie Jones in rugby union and also with Wayne Bennett in rugby league," Buchanan said.
After resigning as Australian coach Jones helped South Africa win the 2007 rugby World Cup while former Australian rugby league coach Bennett last year helped guide New Zealand to a stunning World Cup final triumph against the Australians in Brisbane.
Buchanan left the Australia job after the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies as elite cricket's most successful coach, with a winning record of 70 per cent since he became national coach in 1999.
Though the Australian side has changed significantly since Buchanan's departure, many key players from his era - Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Mike Hussey and Brett Lee - will play in the Ashes series, starting on July 8.
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