Coach John Buchanan, who presided over Australia's world record Test and one-day winning runs, is to step down after next year's World Cup in West Indies [Images].

The 53-year-old Buchanan had been contracted to see Australia through the defence of their one-day crown in the Caribbean in 2007, and Cricket Australia confirmed on Monday it would be his final act in the post.

A former opening batsman for Queensland, Buchanan took over as coach of the state side in 1994, guiding them to their first domestic titles in 1995 and 1997.

He was named coach of English county side Middlesex a year later before succeeding Graham Marsh in the national coaching post in October 1999.

He then presided over the most successful series of performances in any era.

Australia's 10-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in Harare in October 1999, the match preceding Buchanan's appointment, started a winning sequence of 16 victories which ended with the epic second Test loss to India in Mumbai in March 2001, when the hosts won by 171 runs after following-on.

21 GAMES

The one-day team went on a winning spree of 21 games stretching from the seven-run victory over England [Images] in Hobart in January 2003 to the 39-run loss to the West Indies at Port of Spain in May 2003.

But he came under fire after the Ashes series in 2005 over selection and tactical decisions as England regained the urn for the first time in 18 years.

Buchanan developed a reputation for leftfield coaching.

He slipped notes of the teachings of Chinese philosopher Sun-Tzu under players' hotel doors on tour, recited poetry in the dressing room and made England coach Duncan Fletcher's diary a compulsory addition to the squad's reading list as they prepare to win back the Ashes later this year. The five-test Ashes series starts in Brisbane on Nov. 23.