Book of Buchanan – Another failed venture!

If you are writing a book, or planning to write a book for sure you know how to hype it up to get the best sales figures, isn’t it? Bitch about someone just smiled at you other day, talk about an affair with your nanny, degrade someone who is currently on his/her peak time, to the extend say you bedded your neighbor’s wife etc. these are few tips to entertain the readers as well as bring the much needed attention to the book. This ritual has been practiced for decades by number of writers and non-writers, and quite remarkable to see them happening over and over again. I am talking about those new writers who are seeking the public consideration desperately. Lately a sentry who guarded Michael Jackson’s house came out with a book accusing MJ as a gay! Next day his ex-nanny published another book claiming MJ’s family members are greedy for the treasure that MJ had hidden somewhere in closet, I am sure if the book has to be published a month ago MJ himself would be searching for this so called treasure that only his nanny knows! After all these hoopla what happens following the book hit shelves? The writer come up with the denial and says his book has taken out of context!! Hoping some more people will buy his book to elucidate who is right the writer or electronic media.

There is one more name to add to the list of writers who made the drone before their book release, it is none other than former Australian cricket coach John Buchanan. He poke at the sleeping tigers without any particular reason other than eying on book sales, as victims always should be big names; here too the story is not different. Buchanan questioned and challenged Indian dummy god Sachin Tendulkar, the wall Rahul Dravid, prince of Kolkatta Sourav Ganguly and probably less coloured them all VVS Laxman in his latest “fictitious” work.

I must admit the fact, I had lost the believe in Buchanan’s ability as coach in the light of his recent deeds especially his “non-performance” as Kolkatta Knight Rider’s coach in second edition of IPL! He was one of the most confused human on earth to come up with the nonsensical multi-captain theory, the whole cricketing world condemned it and made noise, Sourav Ganguly’s (then captain of KKR) fans showed their extreme anger by burning effigies of Buchanan on the streets of Kolkatta, unfortunately one person went unheard about all these buzz is the owner of the team Mr. Sharukh Khan. He paid the price for unwise ignorance in later stage but by the time damages has been done.

There was a strong reason why Buchanan turned as a confused bloke during his tenure with KKR. His Laptop affected by a weird Trojan virus, when he clicked on start button it shuts down the window, when he opened a site for long leg fielding tricks it opened long leg of a white whore in a porno site, clicked on program menu it went to the format options! To fuel the agony he is one coach who always rely on Laptop, what you expect him to do when his laptop is as confused as this? He too mystified just like his laptop and came out with a totally bewildered chap’s typical outlandish thinking!

To me a coach is only as good as the team he has. During Buchanan’s candy days with Cricket Australia, he had a team that in fact required a little prompting with an array of enviable talent. Such was Steve Waugh’s squad that need no coach at all, from the top captain Steve Waugh to the bottom Brett Lee knows their role correctly and properly, and eager to apply their share of contribution to the team. Aussies would be having lesser trophies than what they have now only if Buchanan had to open his laptop more often that he is doing with other teams he is coaching! Look at inaugural edition of IPL, Rajasthan Royals had no coach; they triumphed as champions with clever captaincy by Warnie and almost all new comers with high energy level to prove their worth. Each and every one of the team members knows their business only too well to be told anything at all.

Under the circumstances, Buchanan merely moved with the flow like a true blue blood Australian and stretched out in the reflected glory of the team. However during his tenure there were plenty of whispers of a discord between Buchanan and some of the senior players including Steve Waugh, and Shane Warne. Notably heard by outer world was Warnie’s voice, he had his own share of problems with his wife and girl friends, his marriage was on rock, following all these personal problems that nobody in the world could fix it, he came to the team to see this middle aged man doing nothing but chewing salad sandwiches in regular intervals and taking away the credits and splendors of team’s success! Warnie’s expression published in the news papers “an international team no need a coach” made a furor between him and Buchanan.

Nobody is questioning Buchanan’s right to express his views and expertise about cricket to the media, but he should be able to back them up with his performance. He got carried away with his own perceived importance during his tenure with KKR. Initially plotted and perished, drowned the team with him into mediocrity and failure!

Buchanan’s only success was he managed to keep himself in the spotlight with his amateurish blunders. After IPL disaster the man managed to get himself back on the news lines by allegedly “spilling the beans” act with English coach ahead of Ashes series. For a man who hailed as a greatest cricketing coach in the world following Steve Waugh’s amazing run of success, Buchanan exposed his triviality with his latest acts and statements.

Every publisher with sales figures in their mind will ask the writer to include a chapter or two with a little twist, sex. Classic gimmick to make pre-sale publicity is abuse someone who did nothing to the author. If accused is shocked, and the audience who heard about it is shocked, the book definitely going to be a hit! It is bound to trigger some controversies eventually book sales figures.

But let me tell you something, Buchanan’s book The Future of Cricket: The rise of Twenty 20 is a big yawn. It is not a literal work or any thing that sort. Some one asked him to write about cricket, he wrote it probably while high on drugs!