Buchanan calls his boys 'soulless'

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><img align="left" src="/photo/370872.cms" alt="/photo/370872.cms" border="0" /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">HOBART, Dec 19:</span> In a sensational attack on Australia’s star cricketers, their coach John Buchanan has accused them of letting sponsors, business interests and other external factors produce a "soulless" display against India in the second Test in Adelaide.<br /><br />"Boys, I love each and every one of you but I am so disappointed with the soulless, un-baggygreen, immature performance today," an emotional Buchanan said after his side collapsed to 196 all out on the fourth evening of the second Test. <br /><br />"I love each and every one of you but like my own family, you thrill, you frustrate, you anger," said the coach, adding, "I question, what progress have we made as a team, as individuals." <br /><br />Buchanan’s strong criticism of his players apparently came even before they lost to India. Subsequently they have been pilloried by the Australian media. <br /><br />Buchanan wrote, "My feelings, while heightened by today''s inept display have everything to do with you as persons first, family men (for most of you) second and players third." <br /><br />"In the lead-up to this game and up till tonight, the issues that have dominated conversations, priorities and by definition (I may well be incorrect), your attention/focus/clarity-deal-making; sponsors; Tug''s (captain Steve Waugh) farewell to Adelaide; helmets; what the media is saying about you," he said. <br /><br />The letter talks of "sacrifice of self, sacrifice of family, sacrifice of money-making ventures and ultimately sacrifice to establishing the best legacy for Australian cricket." <br /><br />Buchanan has cited the example of Adam Gilchrist and Justin Langer (JL) in guiding Australia to a famous victory against Pakistan in Hobart in 1999 and compared it with team’s spineless batting in Adelaide. <br /><br />"About this time, four years ago in Hobart, Gilly and JL responded to a ‘no-win’ situation with courage, conviction, and a toughness of character and concentration that is the pure fabric of the Australian cricket team," he said. <br /><br />"Today the only similar response I saw was Willo (Brad Williams with an injured shoulder) bowling, batting, throwing and diving at mid-off!! What has happened in the interim?" Buchanan said the players were letting "yourselves down seeking excuses rather than being totally responsible for your decisions." <br /><br />He wrote, "I, like all the support staff, respect who you are and what you have achieved. We are always in awe of what you do." <br /><br />"We couldn''t wish for greater success to be bestowed on you as team, as individual cricketers, as people and as family men." <br /><br />He wrote of his belief that Australia could pull off a victory on the final day even though it collapsed in the second innings. <br /><br />"I like you and our support team will believe to the final ball bowled we can win this game. However, if the result does not go our way then we would expect to see the baggy green spirit ... the courage of Willo, Gilly, JL to be clearly on show to you all so that we march to the MCG and the SCG playing in the spirit," he said. <br /><br />Buchanan has implored to treat it as a "private letter obviously." <br /><br />"It''s disappointing if it found it''s way anywhere. It''s a matter between myself and the players, not just the players, the whole team. That would be my only comment." <br /><br />The letter said the players have elected "a tough road but good on you for choosing this path".</div> </div>