AUSTRALIA have recovered much self-esteem and the faith of their demanding public over the past fortnight with resounding successes over the World XI, but the fallout from a first Ashes series defeat in 18 years continues unabated. Yesterday it was the turn of John Buchanan, the highly respected coach, to say that he had largely lost the plot on tour.

Buchanan feels that he “lost touch” with his players during England’s gripping, 2-1 series victory. “It happened because I’d pushed myself into a different role, which was to give the players responsibility for their game,” he said. “Also, giving the assistant coach (Jamie Siddons) more responsibility. In doing so, I’d removed myself from contact with the players.

“I learnt I had to re-establish relationships, that I had to change my role a bit. I finished the Ashes physically and emotionally drained. Looking back, I ought not to have retreated into myself the way I did. Yet I can’t be certain that the result would have been different had I myself acted differently.”

Despite the disappointment of losing the Ashes, Buchanan’s contract was extended until 2007 by Cricket Australia and he is plotting the return of the urn. The coach also feels that the defeat may prove a blessing in disguise. “It has made us look at England (and) at other countries,” he said. “We came up against an England team which was very well prepared. We went t here with a lot of expectations and, quite simply, didn’t meet those expectations.

“We didn’t win, but it was a tight series. The result, though, has made me, the players, the support staff and Cricket Australia look at where we are and where we desire to be.”

Buchanan said that he had thought long and hard and consulted Ricky Ponting, the captain, and senior players before before committing himself to a further term.

“I had to convince myself that I wanted to continue and that I still had something to offer,” Buchanan said. “I would not have carried on if the players didn’t want me. However, I’m getting closer to the use-by date.”

Buchanan said that the ability of England bowlers to swing both the new and old ball told on Australia’s batsmen. “You don’t come across very many bowlers who do that in today’s cricket,” he said. “Outside England, I can’t think of anybody other than Chaminda Vaas (of Sri Lanka).”

Duncan Fletcher, the England coach, believes that dry, turning pitches in Pakistan could provide his team’s pace-bowling battery with another opportunity to use that reverse swing on the forthcoming tour. A dry surface will roughen the ball and encourage the the type of bowling that helped to beat Australia, but Inzamam-ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain, seems prepared to take that gamble.

Inzamam believes that England are favourites to win the series after the Ashes success and is concerned about a lack of match practice for the first Test, which starts in Multan on November 12. He appeared badly out of form and faced only seven balls for one run after reluctantly agreeing to play for the World XI in the Super Series Test.

With England scheduled to leave next week, Inzamam said that Pakistan will build their attack around the wrist spin of Danish Kaneria and hinted at a recall for Mushtaq Ahmed, who made the most recent of his 52 Test appearances two years ago.

“A home team has only one advantage and that is the pitches we play on,” Inzamam said. “The quicks will not have to despair and if Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami and Shabbir Ahmed are fit, our opening attack will not be without teeth. But Danish has been our main bowler for the past year and we intend giving him pitches that will offer assistance.

“Mushtaq has plenty of experience and it is possible he will play. He has done well for Sussex and I am not in favour of blooding anyone in a series of such pressure, as pressure can get to the individual. The break we have had is a worry for me. A layoff for four to five months is unthinkable nowadays. I would not have been so concerned had there been domestic cricket on back in Pakistan.”

Inzamam spent some of the summer in England, watching parts of the Ashes series at close quarters, and believes success stems from the relationship between Fletcher as coach and Michael Vaughan as captain. He believes it has taken him time to develop a similar relationship with Bob Woolmer, the Pakistan coach, because of cultural differences.

Although Inzamam denied that a rift exists with Shoaib, he said that his fastest bowler must prove his form and fitness. “If he is fit it is in my interests to have him in the XI,” Inzamam said. “I don’t see myself being bigger than anybody simply because I am captain.”