PEAKING AT THE RIGHT TIME KEY TO WINNING A WORLD CUP, SAYS TWO-TIME CUP-WINNING COACH JOHN BUCHANAN
WHY BLOGGING?
First things first. I haven’t moved from journalism to blogging, I merely see a Blog as another platform to share my thoughts or, indeed, the views of those I interview.
I’m not dependent on the health of the Managing Editor of one newspaper or on the space provided to the Sports pages in another publication.
A Jumbo thank you to John Marshall Buchanan, a dear friend from the time I first interviewed him (Sydney, January 2000), for being such a terrific sport and agreeing to a late request for an interview.
Do I need to introduce Buchanan? Come on, no! Let me just say there have been International coaches by the dozens, but Buchanan stands apart.
As for the timing of this blog, India’s first match in the 2023 World Cup is today (Sunday). It’s a big day, then.
India did win the recent bilateral ODI series against Australia, but that’s part of history. Best not to dwell on the past, but to treat this World Cup as an enormous opportunity to enhance and build reputations.
One step at a time.
Do read on for the Buchanan interview…
LPS: Potential finalists India and Australia face each other in their first match. What could make the difference?
JB: Weather is a factor at this time of the year in India… Could it reduce overs? Will D-L come into play? Or, quite simply, that dew in Chennai becomes a factor enabling the team batting second to have an advantage.
LPS: Key players for India?
JB: I believe India’s batting to be the key, so openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, if that is the selection, then KL Rahul to guide the middle to late order with Ravindra Jadeja being the one to watch out through the tournament… Their roles are critical.
LPS : Gill hasn’t been ruled out, but is most likely to be played only on full recovery. Assuming he doesn’t feature in Sunday’s XI, it would be a blow…
JB: Of course, Gill will then be missed, but India have depth in batting. That’s a strength.
LPS: Young Gill’s phenomenal run in 2023 has taken some of the pressure off Virat Kohli…
JB: Indeed, that has allowed Kohli to bat with fluency and freedom.
LPS: The three key men for Australia would be?
JB: Australia need to be able to counter India’s batting. Again, pending selection, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Adam Zampa will be the key.
LPS: With so many players from overseas, Australia included, playing for IPL franchises, is India no longer a mightily challenging country to compete in?
JB: It is a fact that after the IPL exposure, overseas players are definitely more comfortable in short-format cricket.
LPS: We’re speaking after the first two days of this World Cup. The four, in your opinion, most likely to make the semi-finals?
JB: India, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and one from among Australia, Pakistan and England. You could add South Africa in that mix.
LPS: You’re very confident about Sri Lanka…
JB: It’s not about my confidence, but I feel Sri Lanka’s squad can play well in all conditions across India.
LPS: You mentioned South Africa almost as an after-thought…
JB: Look, South Africa do have a very good all-round side, but I’m still not convinced about their ability to adapt their game to Indian conditions.
LPS: Which, to your mind, has been the fiercest India vs Australia ODI?
JB: There have been a few, but it is hard to go past the 2003 World Cup final. India chose to bat second on a wicket which, from overnight rain, had sweated under the cover. The opening partnership (105) of Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist laid the foundation for our winning total – 359 for two. The runs apart, they never allowed any bowler to settle. Hayden and Gilchrist attacked from the beginning.
JB: Cannot recall, for both teams have played so many ODIs against each other.
LPS: The Ricky Ponting-John Buchanan partnership took Australia to two World Cup wins, 2003 and 2007. What made the two of you script incredible success?
JB: We were both very competitive and saw the game the same way. We’d developed a very good relationship from the start of my tenure (1999-2000) and, then, when Ricky took over the ODI captaincy from Steve Waugh on the tour of South Africa in 2001-2002.
LPS: You enjoyed unmatched success both in Tests and ODIs, but how much of a role can coaches actually play in, say, a World Cup campaign?
JB: Coaches do play a significant role – from tracking how the game plan is unfolding to keeping the dressing room relatively calm and balanced… It’s also about reviewing every match to assess strengths and weaknesses, to assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition going forward in the tournament… Finally, getting the team to peak at the right time, allowing the players and support staff to get away from the pressures that surround a World Cup and creating an environment for them to come back, mentally, for the next match.
LPS: How did you get Ponting and the rest to stay calm in the closing stages of the 2003 and 2007 World Cups?
JB: By allowing them to ‘switch off’ and ‘switch on’ at the right time.
LPS: The pressure of a World Cup… How is it best handled?
JB: Peaking at the right time. Win or lose, you have to quickly get off matches, get away from the glare of the tournament for as long as possible. Naturally, you have to ‘switch on’ in preparing for the next opponent.
LPS: How long did it take you to overcome missing the Australia dressing room?
JB: Well over a decade on, I still miss being in the dressing room. I do not, however, miss the travel and the constant microscope of the Media, fans and the public at large.
LPS: During your Australia years, you plotted against Rahul Dravid, India’s head coach for almost two years now… As we speak, he’s busy plotting against Australia…
JB: Rahul is a deep thinker of the game, as is his counterpart in the Australia dressing room, Andrew McDonald. Both have some very experienced players alongside them. Rahul has a couple of more match-winners in his squad and they are young.
LPS: Dravid’s No.1 priority?
JB: To keep the inevitable expectations and distractions of playing at home to a minimum. Rahul has his job cut out.
JB: There will always be an X Factor individual, as that is what makes certain players great. Sport will throw up the unpredictable. Always.
LPS: Could Artificial Intelligence (AI) put coaches out of business?
JB: Coaches who think AI will not impact on their role will he left behind. Coaches who embrace AI will prosper.
LPS: Finally, you were recently in India. What for, John?
JB: For Ready Steady Go Kids, the leading multi-sports programme for children between 18 months and six years of age. Hope to be back in India in January 2024, to continue the programme’s growth and promotion.
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