Oz still ahead of India: Buchanan

Ricky Ponting8217;s men have just been dealt a drubbing by Team India but former Australia coach John Buchanan maintains...

Ricky Ponting8217;s men have just been dealt a drubbing by Team India but former Australia coach John Buchanan maintains that the Aussies are still way ahead of their recent challengers in the long run. The lanky World Cup-winning coach, now in charge of the Kolkata outfit for the Indian Premier League IPL, is in the city for a final round of talks with the Kolkata team owners Red Chillies Entertainment.

Speaking to reporters on the eve of the official launch of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan8217;s team, Buchanan strongly defended the Australian team despite their shock loss to MS Dhoni8217;s boys in the tri-nation ODI tournament. And later in the evening, the former national coach dropped in at Kolkata team skipper Sourav Ganguly8217;s place for discussing IPL-related matters. Excerpts of his interaction:

On Australia reportedly losing the world No 1 tag to the Indians

8226; It8217;s way too early to say Australia are not No 1 and India are ahead. After this tour, India and Australia are on level terms, at the most. Going by the two teams8217; performances in the last eight years, Australia have shown a much better level of consistency. Australia are still on top.

On Australia8217;s main area of concern right now

8226;Their main concern these days is the leg-spin department. That8217;s the main problem for the team right now, after Shane Warne left. The other departments are all okay.

On his position over Shane Warne making negative comments about him

8226; He is a champion cricketer, no doubt about that. I understand Warney very well, and how he operates. Sometimes, too much is made about what he says. It8217;s just that he speaks his mind, that8217;s it. Again, I repeat, he8217;s a champion cricketer for all his contributions to world cricket. Questions can only be raised about him over his off-the-field activities.

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On whether the bad blood of the Down Under tour will spill into the IPL

8226;I don8217;t think there will be any India vs Australia bad blood in the IPL. That8217;s simply because the IPL teams are a complete mixture of players from various countries. I am sure there is no scope for tension.

On Ishant Sharma emerging as the find of the tour for India

8226; I quite like Ishant despite the injuries. But the young fast bowler needs to put on more muscles on him. Ishant is the kind of player India would someday like to spearhead the bowling. He needs to be handled carefully.