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Clarke vs Watson: Arthur's explosive faction claims

You got sacked Mickey, get over it. (Image: AFP / William West)
16th July, 2013
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Former Australian cricket coach Mickey Arthur has reportedly made claims of a fractured team environment between captain Michael Clarke and Shane Watson, in legal documents which seek up to $4 million in compensation, or his job back from Cricket Australia, claiming racial discrimination.

Arthur was sacked last month before the start of the Ashes series, CA claiming he failed to arrest declining standards of discipline in the team.

But Arthur is taking CA to court as he seeks payments and compensation through to the end of his 2015 contract.

He was reportedly on a $400,000 a year salary with bonuses of up to $200,000 per annum.

The Seven Network reported the documents tendered to court by Arthur showed a fractured team environment with captain Michael Clarke and star allrounder Shane Watson at odds.

“There was major tension between Michael Clarke and Shane Watson,” Seven reported from Arthur’s document of claim.

The network also alleged Clarke had described Watson and his faction as “a cancer”, with Arthur calling himself the “meat in the sandwich” in the imbroglio.

Arthur also allegedly said that Watson had tipped him off about the incident in which Australian opener David Warner punched English batsman Joe Root in a bar before the series start.

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The incident proved to be the last straw for CA, who sacked Arthur shortly thereafter.

Warner was subsequently fined and suspended, and missed selection for Australia in the first Test.

Arthur went on to say in the tendered document that CA did not support him over the ‘homeworkgate affair’ where four players were stood down from a Test in India for failing to do an assignment.

He alleged that he was discriminated against because he was from South Africa and did not understand the Australian way.

“We’re disappointed it has come to this position but Cricket Australia is confident in its position on this matter and I’m sure it will get resolved in an appropriate fashion,” CA lawyer Dean Kino told Seven.

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