Australian cricket coach John Buchanan will not seek his re-appointment after expiry of his contract next year, Cricket Australia said today. Buchanan, who has been in charge of the Australian team since 1999-00, said helping the players gel as a successful unit had been a satisfying experience for him and now he would give priority to his family. “To see players come into the side and fulfill their talent has made this role a truly satisfying one. I have had a thoroughly enjoyable time in the position and feel I have made a contribution to the overall success Australia has achieved on the world cricketing stage over the past seven years. “All cricketers make sacrifices to cricket over their family. I will have the opportunity after the 2007 World Cup to devote more time to my family,” Buchanan said today. He said the next coach would carry forward the good work done for the team. “There’s a shelf life in coaching and I believe that following the World Cup it will be the appropriate time to hand over the reins to someone new. There’s a good foundation of systems and processes for the next coach to shape the future of the Australian cricket team. “My absolute focus at the moment, however, is the upcoming summer of cricket. I am extremely excited about the challenges we face with the ICC Champions Trophy and The Ashes. THE BUCHANAN YEARS 1999: Took over from Geoff Marsh after Australia had beaten Zimbabwe, then led the Test lineup to 15 consecutive wins - giving the Australians a world record winning stretch of 16 Tests. 2001 (March): That stunning loss to India at Calcutta in March 2001, with Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman in magnificent stand. 2001: Australia also lost the subsequent Test at Chennai and experienced the first of only two series losses in Buchanan’s reign, the second being the 2005 Ashes series in England. Overall: Guided Australia to victories in 24 Test series and drawn one. Australia were also undefeated as it defended the World Cup in 2003 amid a record run of 21 consecutive limited-overs international victories. That extraordinarily successful period, saw Australia winning 74.5 percent of their 267 ODIs. In Tests they have won 75.29 percent of their 85 Tests
