Buchanan rejects Ashes 'treachery' claims

Former Australian coach John Buchanan has denied suggestions of treachery amid reports he has met with English officials to help plot their strategy for next month's Ashes series.

A London newspaper reported that Buchanan had held a series of meetings with England officials and coaching staff last week about their Ashes tactics.

The Sunday Telegraph said it would be seen as "an act of treachery by many Australians, given Buchanan's intimate knowledge of this Australian side."

Buchanan's advisory contract with Cricket Australia has not been renewed, leaving him free to work with other countries.

While defending his right to act as a coaching consultant, he has denied his talks involved leaking information for Ashes game plans.

"I did meet with them but we did not discuss their Ashes strategy," Buchanan told Sydney's Daily Telegraph newspaper Monday.

"We mainly talked about the Twenty20 game and the development of their centre of excellence.

"It was basically a continuation of the work I had done (earlier this year) when I spoke to the English Lions team in New Zealand."

Buchanan, 56, said he had nothing to apologise for, given that coaching had become a global profession and Australian coaches were in demand. "We have seen that with (Australian) Eddie Jones in rugby union and also with Wayne Bennett in rugby league," Buchanan said.

SYDNEY, AFP