Buchanan bats in Ponting's defence

"Ricky's captaincy style has always been consultative. He will always talk to a range of people," said the Aussie coach.

Australia coach John Buchanan has insisted he will not let increasing speculation about his own future overshadow the build-up to next week's climactic fifth Test against England.

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Australia must win at The Oval if they are to retain the Ashes that have been theirs since 1989.

England, by going 2-1 up in the series, albeit with what were eventually two narrow victories after dominating at Edgbaston and Trent Bridge against a side that were twice without injured lead quick Glenn McGrath, have turned the spotlight on Buchanan as never before.

Buchanan's contract expires in October and Cricket Australia have so far been guarded as to whether the former Queensland and Middlesex coach, in charge of the national side since 1999, can expect a renewal.

Asked by reporters on Thursday if he felt secure in his role, Buchanan -- who stressed he wanted to stay on -- replied: "I'm not even thinking about that. It's not a factor in my consideration."

"My consideration is to simply try and make sure we go into this game in the best possible shape and give ourselves the best possible chance to win it."

"If we don't win it, well then obviously there are other decisions to be made after that. But that's not an issue for me at the moment."

"We'll finish this, and then we'll sit down with Cricket Australia (CA) and work through that process," added Buchanan ahead of his side's two day warm-up game against Essex at Chelmsford starting on Saturday.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting has also been in the firing-line.

He gave his critics further ammunition with a foul-mouthed rant after being run out in England's three-wicket win at Trent Bridge last week and was fined 75 per cent of his match fee.

Ponting subsequently insisted the source of his anger was England's use of substitute fieldsman, who he believes are giving the home side's fast bowlers unfair additional rest.

Buchanan, while not condoning the Tasmanian's behaviour, said suggestions that leg-spin great Shane Warne, a noted tactician, was effectively captaining the side instead of Ponting during certain periods of the Trent Bridge Test were wide of the mark.

"My own view is it's totally unwarranted. Ricky's captaincy style has always been consultative. He will always talk to a range of people, has always done, so that hasn't changed."

"His approach to the game, his passion for the game, his leadership amongst the team and in the situations we've been in is outstanding."

"Australia is lucky to have him."

"The difficulty for people outside is to appreciate what is happening inside and while experts provide an opinion, it is not necessarily based on any facts or evidence."

Other suggestions include calling up batsman Michael Hussey and all-rounder Shane Watson, both at English counties, into the squad.

Buchanan, while refusing to be drawn on these options, did say that conditions at The Oval could see leg-spinner Stuart MacGill play his first Test of the series alongside Warne.

"The Oval historically provides bounce and it provides turn. That aids both pace bowlers who hit the deck and spin bowlers because they actually get bounce with some turn. Therefore, I am sure (chairman of selectors) Trevor Hohns would say, Stuart MacGill is very much in the equation."