Buchanan fired as Knight Riders coach

Former Australia coach John Buchanan was fired by Indian Premier League team Kolkata Knight Riders on Thursday.

Buchanan's ousting comes after the team finished at the bottom of this year's IPL competition - played in South Africa - losing 10 of 14 matches.

"Buchanan had a vision for Knight Riders. Unfortunately, it has not brought the results that are so necessary to this franchise," part owner Jay Mehta was quoted as saying by Press Trust of India.

"He has informed Knight Riders that despite his hard work over the past two seasons, he has not achieved everything that he set out to."

Buchanan claimed his parting of ways with Kolkata was amicable, saying his coaching style was not "aligning" with team management.

"I'm very disappointed in not being able to continue with the Knight Riders and complete the work I started some 18 months ago," PTI quoted Buchanan as saying in a statement.

"I would like to thank everyone who supported me at Knight Riders."

Buchanan's theoretical coaching style and innovations, such as using multiple captains during a match, brought some criticism, including from former India captain Sourav Ganguly.

Ganguly was Kolkata's captain in 2008, but was replaced by New Zealander Brendon McCullum this year. McCullum led the team throughout this year's IPL and the multiple captaincy experiment seemed to have been abandoned.

Buchanan coached Australia for eight years, overseeing a world record 16 consecutive test victories and claiming the 2003 and 2007 ODI World Cups. He recently signed a short-term contract as consultant with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).