Former Australia coach Mickey Arthur says he copped blowback from Cricket Australia and players when he tried to fix a team culture he claims was always destined to be enveloped in crisis.
Arthur, who coached Australia between 2011 and 2013, has also questioned why Darren Lehmann was seen as the man to replace him after the Indian homework-gate drama if officials were serious about addressing the national team’s attitude.
In a scathing column on PlayersVoice.com.au, Arthur accused the Australian team of being a “law unto themselves” and said each other Test nation felt the Aussies looked down on them.
However, he saved his biggest critique for CA who he claimed failed to fix a culture he claimed led to the ball-tampering saga this week that has claimed Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft.
“When I pushed hard on issues of culture, I was told by my superiors to back off,” Arthur, who applauded the latest disciplinary action, wrote.
“And when I softened my approach I was told to go in harder.
“Parameters were never set and the goalposts kept moving. It was a challenging environment in which to try to reset the culture.”
Australia’s team culture has become a point of contention all week, with CA chief executive James Sutherland confirming it will be reviewed by an expert panel.
Arthur, who insists his relationship with CA has improved since they settled out-of-court over his axing, accepts there were things he could have done better to improve culture.
But the now-Pakistan coach was adamant the governing body could’ve also made a difference.
His two-year tenure is largely remembered for standing down four players in India for not completing a review task in 2013.
However, he said he also dealt with disrespect from players to coaching staff, tardiness at team meetings and a questioning of his understanding of “the Australian way” given he’d previously coached his native South Africa.
Eventually, it came to an end shortly after Warner was suspended for an altercation with now-England captain Joe Root inside a Birmingham pub in the early hours of the morning.
But given that, he questioned why Lehmann – who on Thursday admitted the team’s culture had to change – was seen as the right man to take over in 2013.
“I’ve got a lot of admiration for Darren. I think he’s a damn fine coach,” Arthur wrote.
“But the impression I got was, at a period in time where they could’ve been addressing the broader issue of team culture, Cricket Australia were instead intent on bringing in an Aussie knockabout for beers at the bar at 6pm, telling stories about yesteryear, everyone sitting around the campfire and having a laugh and going to bed happy.”
Johnno
Guest
it started under Ian Chappell in the 70's...
DavSA
Guest
Facts discredit you.
DavSA
Guest
Um He coached the likes of Jaques Kallis , Graeme Smith , AB De Villiers , Dale Steyn etc. Why on earth would he feel intimidated by Ponting.
DavSA
Guest
Aurthur took SA to nr 1 in the ICC test world rankings . That is documented.
Greg
Guest
Meetings and study produce better performance. Corporate standards could be applied to cricket like it has in the NFL. Look at Tom Brady in the NFL. He spends hours and hours studying, doing team meetings, and doing video study. He is the NFLs Goat because he works harder than anyone else. As Brady says "you have to give up your life to beat me because I will be giving up my life to beat you". Arthur was attempting to be Bellicheck and set the highest of professional standards.
Greg
Guest
I've know a couple of people who have had dealings with Michael Clarke and they all say what a nice guy he is. You mark the man on how he was there for people during the tough times. When a 35 year old Shane Warnes marriage was breaking down during the 2005 Ashes was it a senior playing who was there for Shane. No, it was Michael Clarke some 10 years his junior who was there. During the Phil Hughes episode, Clarke leadership was incredible and he was there for the Hughes family. Let's all come to appreciate Clarks leadership in a better light.
elvis
Guest
Except they aren't a corporation and endless drivel and meetings about nothing doesn't improve any performance. It makes the bloated staff look like they are doing something useful though. Who on earth thinks making a sportsperson write a 3 paragraph email is going to improve anything?
Jumbo
Guest
Steve Waugh bears a lot of the blame. The degeneration of Australian behaviour began under Border and accelerated on his watch, turning into schmaltzy self-obsession.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
I thought Micky was starstruck by Ricky.
Basil (the original)
Guest
Yeah, I told you so! So there!
Greg
Guest
I think that paragraph about Lehmann being the knockabout who hosts drinks at the bar at 6.00pm is going to become a clear assessment of Lehmann over the coming weeks. Interesting that his predecessor was able to articulate it so succinctly. I liked Micky Athur and was disappointed that the Australian cricket team could not get on board with the standards of a coach who had taken South African cricket to the top. Why was it too hard for the Australia team to turn up to meetings on time? We all have to show up to work meetings on time otherwise our standards are questioned. Why disrespect support staff? We all have support staff who we appreciate and make our jobs easier. Why don't you type up your three paragraph email. We all have to do that. Micky Arthur was attempting to set real life corporate standards that drive performance and generate outcomes. Disappointed that the Australian team did not get on board with Arthur and disappointed with CA for not backing Arthur.
Rebellion
Guest
Anything uttered by Mickey Arthur or Michael Clarke at this point in time can be considered fit for a rubbish bin Both were failed leaders of men. Clarke had all of the tools and as a tactician, pretty much unmatched alongside Warney. As a bloke it would be hard to find worse (enter a James O’Connor)
1st&10
Guest
Agree with Mr Arthur re culture . However Michael “narcissist” Clarke has a lot to answer for. He is the genisis of it all. He ignored all Steve Waugh’s teachings about team culture which was to be passed on Wish we had a Simon Katich at this time
Cadfael
Roar Guru
I didn't think Mickey was a great coach and "homeworkgate" was a juveni9le exercise. However the behaviour of the team did appear to go dowbhill after he left.