May 25, 2008	Sunday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 19, 1429

NEW DELHI, May 24: John Buchanan, who coached Australia to two World Cup wins, has owned up responsibility for the Kolkata Knight Riders’ failure to make the semi-finals of the Indian Premier League.

Buchanan rued the fact that he could not motivate the Knight Riders’ players to perform consistently. “Motivation should come from within. If I am not able to talk and get it from my players, which I indeed could not do at the IPL, I should be under review,” he said.

”As a coach, I work on providing them with an environment to help them achieve their desires, the desire to try and improve. If I can change it fine, or else it would be time to go,” he said on the occasion of the release of his book, ‘If better is possible,’ on Friday.

The 55-year-old said he is in no mood to return to take charge of any national side as he is not in a position to make “much impact” anymore. “I don’t want to go back to coaching a national team. A coach is the buffer to support and protect the players. I don’t have the energy level to match it and I would not have much impact on the team,” he said.

Buchanan, however, disagreed with Australian spin wizard and his strong critic Shane Warne’s views that a national team did not need a coach. “Of course, it (a coach) is needed,” he said.

“It is a huge task even if some people boast and have you believe the otherwise. Preparations are individualised. Take Matthew Hayden. If he had his way like he would just turn up on the day of the match, ready to play.

“Ready tactically, mentally, technically. You would find him spot on. But then there are other players as well who are different,” he added.

Coming back to the IPL, Buchanan did not appear dissatisfied with the Kolkata team and said: “I want to develop the team as the best franchise side. We are also looking for the right people and talent.

“There is the Bollywood aura, but then we don’t have history. We are the ones to initiate and set benchmarks,” he said.

—Agencies