Buchanan talks up Fletcher diary

Australian coach John Buchanan has talked up Duncan Fletcher’s latest book – a coaches diary of the victorious 2005 Ashes campaign – as a “valuable piece of information” in the leadup to this year’s Ashes series.

Buchanan has apparently made the new book mandatory reading for his coaching staff in an attempt to learn more about the strategies that led to England’s victory last year. The English team are widely considered to have won the mental battle with Australia last year, and Buchanan is keen to reverse that trend come November.

The Australian side were rattled last year by a number of English tactics, including the controversial use of substitute fielders for tired bowlers, detailed fast bowling plans targeted at key batsmen and the ruthless attitude of Fletcher and captain Vaughan.

Fletcher also discusses the infamous outburst of Ponting after being run out by specialist sub fielder Gary Pratt in his book, an incident the likes of which Buchanan will no doubt be keen to avoid this time around.