CONCERNED ON CRICKET'S MOVE TOWARDS OLYMPICS: BUCHANAN

Former Australian coach John Buchanan is concerned about the growing support for cricket as an Olympic sport. John who was credited with Australia winning the World Cup categorically stated that ‘the game needs to clean up its act’ and then think of making inroads to the mother of all international events.

“I think before cricket goes in to making a Twenty20 debut in the Olympics it has to make sure that its own backyard is clean first. When we talk about Olympics we talk about the Olympic spirit, things that we don’t like in sports are partially dealt with (in cricket) and I am concerned why cricket is making a movement towards Olympics,” also referring to the recent rise in the international support for the game’s inclusion including players from his own country.

He also stressed that the recent inclusion of the referral system in the game goes against the Olympic spirit. “It is this beginning of questioning the umpire’s decision and I am hundred percent against that. If the authorities say something you cant do that … that is the law … that is the rule and that is what we have to abide by. If you don’t like laws and rules then you do it indirectly and find a way to get that change,” said Buchanan taking a dig at the system, which proved to be fatal for Kumble and his men during the recently concluded test series where India lost 1-2 in the Emerald Isle.

He said that players questioning decisions of the on-field umpire is like making a huge mistake by the game itself. “Players questioning the umpire’s decision is tantamount to the game of cricket. It is becoming like one or the two other sports (like tennis- introduced during Wimbledon 2008) which we probably recognize. It is not being in the spirit of the game. Therefore I think cricket is making a huge mistake if it goes down the path of allowing the players to question the umpire’s decision.”

Buchanan who is also the coach of the Shah Rukh Khan owned Kolkata Knight Riders IPL team said that he was open to a rotation policy for the skipper which would mean that the former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly would increase the bench strength if he fails to perform in the next season. This would simply mean just like the stylish Hyderabadi batsman VVS Laxman gave way for Aussie wicket keeper Adam Gilchrist to lead the team after his poor performance and his injury. The KKR team has many front runners in form of Ricky Ponting, Brendum McCullum, Chris Gayle, David Hussey and also former Zimbabwean skipper Tatenda Taibu gunning to take the baton from Ganguly.

“There are a lot of things that we have been talking about in the off-season and I think big on leadership and I don’t think leadership is just comes from the captain whoever he might be. I see leadership as a part of everybody’s responsibility,” said the KKR coach.

He added the Knight Riders would be touring Down Under after their talent hunt completes in India and this trip would give experience to the youngsters. “One of the reasons why are we bringing the cricketers to Australia is to give them experience to different conditions. When you face an opposition or a situation, they should know how to handle that, they then become better leaders within the team themselves. They don’t look up on the captain or any senior player to do the job.”

Regarding the ongoing one-day series between India and Sri Lanka would be very closely fought citing that both the teams are even at this stage. “It’s going to be tight, after going down 1-2 in the tests. One of the key things Dhoni said on Badrinath (win in the second one-day) that he was instrumental and on the way he played Mendis and Muralitharan.”