Australian cricket coach John Buchanan on Monday followed up his team’s weekend sweep of their tri-series final against Pakistan by saying one-day international cricket is ”tired” and in need of an overhaul.
Buchanan told reporters he does not favour having the increasingly popular Twenty20 matches replace the 50-over format, but said rule changes are needed for the one-day competitions.
”I think it’s a bit of a tired old format, but that’s what the rules are and that’s what we play to,” he said.
”So until somebody changes the game, then really it’s our duty to then work out ways and means in which we play better cricket in the existing format — I guess that’s what we continue to try to do,” he said.
Australia beat Pakistan by 31 runs in Sydney on Sunday in the second game of the best-of-three finals series. They won the first match on Friday in Melbourn by 18 runs.
Buchanan refused to be drawn on whether dumped opening batsman Matthew Hayden would be reinstated for Australia’s tour of New Zealand, beginning on February 17, when selectors meet to pick the squad on Tuesday.
But he said Hayden is not far off recapturing his form after a miserable summer.
”These talented players do a lot of self-correction while they’re out there and that’s what he’s needing,” he said. ”The sooner that comes along for him, the better, and the less speculation from everyone else.” — Sapa-AFP