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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 Khan’s team, Buchanan strongly defended the Australian team despite their shock loss to MS Dhoni’s boys in the tri-nation ODI tournament. And later in the evening, the former national coach dropped in at Kolkata team skipper Sourav Ganguly’s place for discussing IPL-related matters. Here are some excerpts of his interaction with the media this afternoon:
On Australia reportedly losing the world No 1 tag to the Indians
It’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 teams’ performances in the last eight years, Australia have shown a much better level of consistency. Australia are still on top.
On Australia’s main area of concern right now
Their main concern these days is the leg-spin department. That’s the main problem for the team right now, after Shane Warne left. The other departments are all okay.
On your position over Shane Warne making negative comments about him
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. It’s just that he speaks his mind, that’s it. Again, I repeat, he’s a champion cricketer for all his contributions to world cricket. Questions can only be raised about him over his off-the-field activities.
On whether the bad blood of the Down Under tour will spill into the IPL
I don’t think there will be any India vs Australia bad blood in the IPL. That’s simply because the IPL teams are a complete mixture of players from various countries. I am sure there is no scope for tensions.
On Ishant Sharma emerging as the find of the tour for India
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.
On Ricky Ponting’s current poor form
Despite his performance in the series, Ponting still has 100 percent cricket left in him. He’s just going through a lean patch. A batsman of his calibre will soon regain his touch, it won’t be a problem.
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