Cricket: Buchanan ready for challenge

John Buchanan steered Australia to three Ashes wins during his 1999-2007 coaching tenure. Photo / Dean Purcell

John Buchanan likes a challenge, so those with a dim view of the New Zealand team will figure he's just the man to be the national body's director of cricket.

The former Australian coach who was confirmed in the role yesterday reckons he'll work well with New Zealand coach John Wright and "can't wait to get my teeth into it".

Buchanan's overseeing role means that from Wright down, staff are answerable to him. He made the right noises about NZ Cricket yesterday while acknowledging the problems of the recent past.

Some of the performances before making the semifinals at the World Cup were wretched, so Buchanan has plenty to be going on with.

"I understand there have been some performances that haven't necessarily endeared the Black Caps to its public, and there have been some other issues around the side as well.

"But when you come into these roles there's going to be a range of challenges, and that's why you take on the job because you do believe you can make a real difference."

Buchanan wasn't every Australian player's cup of tea during his eight-year term.

He oversaw one of Australia's strongest periods, where the cabal of Steve Waugh, Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden, Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne made them desperately formidable.

Warne was a vociferous critic of Buchanan's methods, calling him "a goose" and claiming he "lived in pixieland".

However Waugh and Ponting spoke highly of his work.

Buchanan's first order of business is to get around NZC and major associations, do plenty of listening, form opinions and put some order into the overall operation.

In his experience New Zealand were a side that utilised their resources well, even if the depth was significantly shallower than Australia's.

"We always found New Zealand to be extremely competitive," he said.

"They were able to challenge us because they worked out how to get the best from their [resources] at the time.

"New Zealand always punched above their weight, but what we want is them to punch 15 rounds and be heavyweight contenders, not a lightweight."

He likes the balance of players with experience, high skill levels and youth and promise in the present squad, and "it's about trying to get everybody on the same page, and that's going to be part of the challenge".

Buchanan's confirmation should start the ball rolling on other appointments, the most high-profile and potentially polarising among them being the next captain.

Both Ross Taylor and Brendon McCullum are keen and have lobbyists in full swing.

Then there is the replacement for Dave Currie as New Zealand team manager, where former internationals Gavin Larsen and Warren Lees are among names in the frame; sorting out the next selection panel, where the incumbents are three former internationals, Mark Greatbatch, Glenn Turner and Lance Cairns; and working through coaching and fitness support staff appointments.

John Buchanan
* Age: 58
* Played seven games for Queensland
* Coached Queensland to their first two Sheffield Shield titles in the 1990s
* Coached Australia 1999-2007, winning three Ashes series and three World Cups. Australia won 69 out of 90 tests on his watch.
* Unsuccessful coaching stints with Middlesex and Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL
* Has a degree in Human Movement, a teaching diploma and a Master of Arts in Sports Administration.
* Runs a consultancy business, Buchanan Success Coaching, which takes lessons of sport and converts them to principles for business.