MELBOURNE - Australian cricket team coach John Buchanan has been stripped of his role as a tour selector ahead of the Ashes tour.

Australian Cricket Board Chief Executive Malcolm Speed today confirmed the decision after informing Buchanan.

"I spoke to John about that yesterday. That was a decision made by the board of directors on Friday on the recommendation of the national selectors," Speed said.

He said the decision was taken because it was felt there could be some conflict between the roles of coach and selector on tour.

"What the selectors are keen to promote is they want John to be quite independent of the selection process, they want the players to be able to go to John and say 'Look, I'm struggling with this part of my game' ... and it's not held against them in the selection process," Speed said.

"They need to do that in a full, frank, open way without feeling that that may be something that ends up at the selection table and works to their detriment."

Speed said Buchanan had not welcomed the news that he had been dropped from the panel to select teams while on tour, which has previously comprised the captain, vice-captain and coach in consultation with the chairman of selectors.

"It's fair to say I think that John doesn't see that as the ideal situation, but he will (still) have significant input to the selection process," he said.

"He'll be consulted by the captain, the vice-captain and the chairman of selectors."

Buchanan came under fire for criticising Shane Warne's fitness during the recent Indian tour and publicly suggesting his Test spot could be in doubt and officials privately moved to rein him in.

It led to a debate about whether the Australian coach should be a behind-the-scenes mentor or also act as a spokesman for the team, similar to football coaches.

Speed said a number of past coaches had also been selectors, but: "I think it was recognised as a problem."

"What we're saying to John is: 'You're the coach of the team. You have a very important role to perform there. It's going well at the moment. Focus on the coaching and leave it to the captain, the vice-captain and the selectors to pick the team on tour.'."

Captain Steve Waugh said he was disappointed with the decision, saying Buchanan offered an added perspective to selection decisions.

"I respect the decision that everyone has made but from a personal point of view, I would have liked to have seen him stay," Waugh told reporters.

"I just think he does a good job and he comes from a bit of a different perspective.

"The coaches ... they're watching things from off the field and seeing how each individual operates."

Asked if he believed there was a conflict between the roles of coach and selector, Waugh said: "I hope not, because it means (the players) won't be coming to me because I'm still a selector and I'm the captain. I want players to come to me.

"I think we've got a pretty open and honest side and I would expect that that shouldn't be a problem, and I don't really think it has been a problem in the past."

He added that the loss of Buchanan as a selector put extra pressure on him and Adam Gilchrist, but "that's why we are there ... you're expected to make decisions".

Waugh said Buchanan's role in the team would not be diminished.

"His primary role is as a coach, a selector was only on tour anyway.

"It's something he would have liked to have done, but it's not there anymore and his role is as the coach and he will continue to do that well."

© 2001 AAP