Two years after being unceremoniously dumped as Australian coach, Mickey Arthur has been in the sports headlines again.
With the impending release of Daniel Brettig’s new book Whitewash to Whitewash, whiny quote machine Arthur has been wheeled out yet again to vent his spleen on his time as Aussie coach.
Like an obsessed ex-partner incapable of moving on, Mickey does not seem to understand the connection between professional confidentiality and the likelihood of receiving a glowing reference for future employment.
The story of Arthur is a fairly stock tale of a coach’s demise, although he does have the distinction of being the first, and potentially last, South African coach of our national side. As happens when most teams underachieve, the coach was made a scapegoat, and subsequently replaced by Darren Lehmann.
While this should have been the end of the matter, Arthur’s inability to take his sacking in his stride and move on has resulted in numerous gripes to the media in the following years.
Listening to the NTS commentary of this summer’s Big Bash League games was often blighted by Mickey’s self-obsessed comments and frequent references to his time as Australian coach.
Despite the best efforts of the other commentators to talk about the game, every second sentence from Arthur was punctuated with some variant of ‘when I was Australian coach…’.
We get it, Mickey. Maybe you were poorly treated. Perhaps you deserved a longer run, or more support from Cricket Australia. Then again, the side’s performances have certainly improved across the board since your axing.
Regardless of what did and didn’t happen, please do yourself and the rest of us a favour, and move on. If you would rather work in the media than coach senior cricket, that’s your choice, but please just stick to 2015.
An insight gained from working closely with a player may be relevant, but save the ‘woe is me’ rants for your next book.
Australian cricket has moved on in a mostly successful fashion. Let’s all hope Mickey Arthur can do the same in coming years.
Ann
Guest
Homework saga was a joke, thank riddens Arthur is gone
Nudge
Guest
I'd agree with that Don
Don Freo
Guest
Ross, Mickey is just answering questions that his fellow commentators ask him about his time in charge. That is the reason he is engaged to commentate...because he has had that experience. He is not creeping around endeavoring to turn every conversation to his 'poor me' circumstance. One thing is clear. He has no power within Australian cricket. Anything he says is not going to impact on anything. I don't get why people just can't listen to it and dismiss it if they feel that way. I, too, didn't like that period and hated having a coach from an inferior cricketing tradition. But...I think he is interesting to listen to and very affirmative of people from that period.
Ross Fleming
Roar Rookie
Time to move on from Mickey, he ruined the team as we were divided under Arthur, boof has united the team and made us among the world's best, can Arthur please stop passing comments on. He nearly destoryed us.
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
It's difficult to answer some of those questions. I think the team respects him, and seems to enjoy playing under him. Clarke's rehab is best left to medical staff, with Lehmann being updated frequently. It will be interesting to see what happens when Smith takes over as captain in the next few years.
horse
Guest
How well do you reckon Lehmann is doing? Daniel. Is he making the most of the main core of the team? For example, is Lehmann in control of Michael Clarke's rehab? Is he fine tuning fast bowlers so they're always fresh? Does he make good choices with team inclusion? Most of all, does the team respect him?
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
I agree, Frozen. That kind of corporate speak is extremely tedious. Darren Lehmann's direct manner of speech is a great improvement on his predecessor.
FrozenNorth
Guest
I felt for him and thought his desire to instill discipline which resulted in the homework drama was a step in the right direction. THEN I HEARD HIM SPEAK. Good god, just a babbling airy fairy corporate speak dribbler. All about the BRAND and talking in the third person. Achingly bad, just awful. Here's one quote, word for word, re. Brad Haddin ..... ''Brad,'' he said, ''was left out for a young guy like Matthew Wade to come in for us to build a brand that was going to be sustainable over a period of time, because at 35 the brand wasn't going to be sustainable with Brad Haddin keeping wicket.'' Reminds me of consultants in the corporate world who march in using big words but are just talking shit. Put your head down, work hard and JUST GET IT DONE.
Don Freo
Guest
That he was sacked is one issue. Whether he should have been is another ( yes, he should have been). Having a young bloke (Daniel) advising a balanced, calm and pleasant man how to manage his affairs...basically to grow up...is ridiculous. I like your stuff, Daniel. I don't like this. A very cheap shot.
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
Thanks, GD. There was an unfair dismissal type lawsuit if I remember correctly as well. All very odd.
GD66
Guest
Cheers Daniel, I thought it was just me that felt he just won't stop with the pouting bottom lip. Apart from his mediocre efforts at man management while coaching WA, leading to the surprise (to me, anyway) Australian appointment, don't forget he got a massive golden handshake upon his early contract termination, and I would have thought a sum of that size would have come with a "no sticks and stones" clause : clearly it didn't, as he hasn't stopped bringing it up at every possible opportunity. I agree with your sentiments : press on, son !
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
On that front, coaching private school boys should be a better fit for his approach.
Dan
Guest
If he wants to go well in the media I hope he's doing his "homework" -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
horse
Guest
Mickey wasn't made Australian coach to be pleasant and affable. He was employed to coach effectively and results show he didn't. Paroachial issues aside, Australia is much better served by Darren Lehmann.
Don Freo
Guest
Mickey has moved on and is doing very well in WA. He is entitled to express opinions when doing interviews. Just because he feels (what he believes was) injustice, and he feels it deeply, does not means he hasn't moved on. He is a very pleasant, affable man in WA media and operates with great dignity.