Clarke has a lot to learn: Buchanan
Former coach John Buchanan has hit back at scathing criticism from Michael Clarke, saying the retired skipper needs to grow as a leader.
Writing in his Ashes Diary 2015, Clarke claimed his dog Jerry could have had success with the calibre of team Buchanan coached.
"He's still living off the fact that he coached a team that anyone, even my dog Jerry, could have coached to world domination," Clarke wrote.
The brutal sledge was in response to Buchanan questioning his leadership during the failed Ashes campaign in England earlier this year.
In the back-and-forth battle, Buchanan has had another go via his website, defending himself and saying Clarke needs to improve his leadership skills.
"Being a captain, coach, corporate leader is not easy. Each is driven by a relentless passion to inspire others to succeed. The leadership skills that accompany these roles are demanding and complex," Buchanan wrote.
"The opportunity to continue to learn these skills is always available, and hopefully Michael will continue to take these opportunities as they will be presented in his future life and careers."
Buchanan also said Clarke could learn from retired New Zealand rugby captain Richie McCaw.
"As a leader, he inspired all those around him, and all those that followed him and the All Blacks, through his deeds and actions.
"As a person, he lived and breathed the values and principles of the All Blacks, and ensured the legacy, begun over 100 years ago, was enhanced during the time that he spent in the company of the AB traditions and brand."
Buchanan has always received criticism that he never actually played for Australia and wore the baggy green.
However, he still believes he played an important role in developing the culture that surrounds the iconic cap.
"My first Test as coach was November 1999 – the same match in which Adam Gilchrist (381) and Scott Muller (382) made their Test debuts. We ensured that such a moment was very special in the life of a cricketer, and so looked to always have cricket legends present a first cap.
"There were another 17 presentations in my time as coach including Michael Clarke’s first 'baggy green' (389) in Bangalore, India, October 2004.
"Each moment was designed to strengthen the role that the 'baggy green' symbol played in growing the aura of the Australian Cricket team. The debutant had now become part of history, tradition and values, and must honour those responsibilities.
"However, the role of the coach in this environment is such that the person is a leader, a manager, a mentor, a parent, a friend, at all different times, in different circumstances, and for different people – the art is to know when to adopt the correct role, and how to deliver it."