ADELAIDE, Dec 20: Australia’s cricket coach John Buchanan has accused his players of a soulless and inept performance against India and claimed they were distracted by ‘deal making’ and sponsorships.

The criticisms came in a letter Buchanan wrote to his players during the second Test, according to Adelaide Advertiser newspaper on Saturday.

The newspaper received a copy of the letter, which was written on the fourth day after Australia’s batting collapse for 196 set up a famous victory for the tourists.

In the letter Buchanan is said to have told his players: “Boys, I’m so disappointed with the soulless, immature performance today. I question what progress we have made as a team, as individuals.”

Buchanan told the players they were distracted by external matters.

“In the lead up to this game the issues that have dominated conversations (and) priorities, attention/focus/clarity have been deal making, sponsors, (captain Steve Waugh’s) farewell to Adelaide, helmets, what the media is saying about you ...

This is the fourth time correspondence from Buchanan to the players has found its way into the media.

The paper said Buchanan was shocked to hear it had obtained his letter.

“It’s a private letter, obviously,” he said. “It’s disappointing. It’s a matter between myself and the players.”

Buchanan’s letters have a history of getting into the media. On the 2001 Ashes tour of England a memo to the Australian team relating theories from Chinese warrior Sun Tzu’s The Art of War to the England team became public when it was placed under hotel doors of reporters as well as players.

Similar incidents have happened during series against New Zealand and South Africa.—AFP