Shane Warne's retirement will leave a "huge void" in the national team that may take generations to fill, Australian cricket coach John Buchanan says.

The successful mentor also believes Warne's departure will force Australia to dramatically re-think the aggressive, attacking approach that has made it world cricket's undisputed king.

But Buchanan believes Australia is well placed to flourish after the expected changing of the guard that Warne's retirement is expected to spark.

"His presence on the cricket field has not only inspired Australian cricket teams but also made life very difficult for opposition teams - it's always a significant advantage to walk on the field with Shane Warne," Buchanan said in Brisbane.

"Certainly from a selection point of view and looking into the future that will now be a huge void that will take maybe generations to fill.

"When you lose one of your great players it does mean you have to re-think and re-look at your team, its balance and the way you want to play your game."

Buchanan believes it is only a matter of time before Australia's old guard of Glenn McGrath, Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer and Adam Gilchrist follow Warne into retirement.

But the prospect is exciting to Buchanan and not just because he is also headed out the door.

Buchanan retires in April after the World Cup with the record of having lost only two of the 27 Test series he presided over with the team since replacing Geoff Marsh in 1999.

He believes the infrastructure is now in place to handle the strain of a mass exodus unlike in the 1980s when Dennis Lillee, Greg Chappell and Rod Marsh's departure crippled the national side.

"One of the significant differences that has occurred is that there are things like the Centre of Excellence program, Australia A and we have seen the emergence of young talent," he said.

"The transition from moving the older, great players out (for) newer, younger players should be a bit easier than in the past.

"That (more retirements) will occur whether that be within two, three, six or 12 months but it heralds an exciting time in Australian cricket."

Buchanan looked forward to Warne helping ease the transition by passing on his vast knowledge onto emerging spinners.

"Anybody who has played that amount of cricket and been that successful has a huge amount to offer," he said.

"The way he thinks as a spinner is an incredible legacy that he could leave behind and present to up and coming spinners.

"(He can teach) how to apply the skill and mentally use the skill to your advantage against the opposition."

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