John Buchanan

Kuala Lumpur: “We aren’t going to rush things... We’ve got time... We do, of course, want to get the best man,’’ is what Cricket Australia (CA) chairman Creag ’Connor had to say about selecting John Buchanan’s successor as coach.

Speaking to The Telegraph on Sunday night, at the Kinrara Oval (after another Australian success), he added: “As you know, we’ve already appointed a committee and a time frame may be announced once the five members have met... I expect the committee to formally call for applications as that would be the best way forward...”

Headed by former captain Mark ‘Tubby’ Taylor, the other members of the committee are: Allan Border (another one-time captain), CA chief executive James Sutherland, acting chief executive Michael Brown and bio-mechanics expert Darryl Foster, who has worked with Shoaib Akhtar and the Pakistan team.

Buchanan, who succeeded Geoff Marsh in late 1999, is contracted till the end of the March-April 2007 World Cup. Australia are the reigning champions. In fact, they’ve won the last two editions.

Meanwhile, talking exclusively, Buchanan said: “I would like to remain in touch with cricket, perhaps as a mentor-coach... I could even work with the chief executives of major corporations, helping them get the best out of their staff... That’s something I’m looking at seriously...”

Buchanan, who has been giving lectures on management for some years now, will be based in Brisbane.