Buchanan won't cry for Fletcher

John Buchanan feels no sympathy for his opposite number Duncan Fletcher after England's second consecutive Test loss. "That's a difficult thing to do in my position," Buchanan said in the Sydney Morning Herald. "He would not have felt that way towards me when the shoe was on the other foot last year."

In 2005 it was Buchanan who was under pressure as the series wore on while Fletcher was sitting comfortably on the way to winning the Ashes. "When all is said and done, they are your opposition," Buchanan said. "He and I respect that, and realise that we have jobs to do. You understand what other teams go through, but it's your job to find weaknesses to exploit. To a certain degree, you have to be emotionless in your approach."

One of the off-field problems for Fletcher over the past week has been his role as coach and selector. However, Buchanan, who has no official say on the make-up of the squad, told the paper the approach has merit.

"If you look around other countries, and not just England, the coach has a very significant role in team selections," Buchanan said. "In many ways, they set the agenda and direction for the team. Right the way through, they have an active involvement in the way those teams perform. That role is still evolving in Australia."

Buchanan will walk away from the side after the World Cup and has only three more Tests in the inner sanctum. "We have not won the series yet, but should we achieve that, I think there will be a hint of personal satisfaction," he said. "It's probably in the recesses of our minds."