Buchanan warns Australia to keep a lid on emotions

SYDNEY, Jan 2 (Reuters) Australia coach John Buchanan has warned his players about the dangers of letting their emotions get the better of them after they made a jittery start to the final test against England today.

With the Ashes already safely back in Australia's hands, the fifth test has become a grand farewell to three of the country's greatest players, Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Justin Langer, who are all retiring from test cricket after the match.

Australia's players have made a pledge to send their team mates out on a winning note by completing their first 5-0 series whitewash of England in 86 years.

But Buchanan, who is also overseeing his last test in charge of Australia before standing down after the World Cup, said the players had to be careful not to let their emotions take over.

''We discussed it before the match but they're a professional lot and they know there's still a job to be done,'' Buchanan told a news conference after the first day.

''There's a fifth test match to be won here and we'd all like to be a part of that and we certainly wouldn't want to walk away not having played well due to the fact that we're all basically overcome with emotion.

''The outpouring of emotions will occur at the end of the game but in the meantime we've got a fair bit of cricket to play.'' EVEN DAY Buchanan said the honours were evenly shared on the first day with England reaching stumps on 234 for four after winning the toss.

Ian Bell (71) shared a 108-run partnership with Kevin Pietersen (41) but McGrath dismissed them both in the space of four balls to reduce the tourists to 167-4 before Andrew Flintoff (42 not out) and Paul Collingwood (25 not out) added 67 by the close.

''I think it's about even. We'd have loved to have taken one or two more wickets and possibly England would have liked to have score another 20 or 30 runs,'' Buchanan said.

''When we had them two-down early there might have been some ghost in the dressing room but I think they responded pretty well.

''I think the game is evenly poised but with the new ball due tomorrow that's going to be a crucial time for both teams.'' There were some obvious signs of early nerves from the Australians with Langer dropping a regulation slips catch off Andrew Strauss though the missed chance was not costly.

Buchanan said the retiring batsman was the player most effected by the emotion but the dropped catch had the desired effect of sharpening his senses.

''Out of the three of them Alfie (Langer) was probably feeling that emotion the most and it took him a little bit of time to get into the game,'' Buchanan said.

''But by the end, he was into it though I don't know if the dropped catch was the sort of catalyst he wanted to get him back on track,'' Buchanan said.

McGrath drew his inspiration from an unlikely source during the tea break, when English opera singer Sean Ruane performed ''Time To Say Goodbye'', made famous by Andrea Bocelli.

''It certainly was inspiring... perhaps we'll get them to do that every day,'' Buchanan said.

Reuters SAM GC1514