11 Interesting facts about Mickey Arthur

Former Free State, Griqualand West and South Africa A cricketer and coach of the Proteas, Mickey Arthur, has been appointed as Pakistan cricket team’s head coach, confirmed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday. The post was left vacant after Waqar Younis resigned following Pakistan’s disastrous World Twenty20 in India, where they triumphed in only one of four matches before crashing out. Coach for Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) Karachi Kings, Mickey Arthur has also helmed the Australian national team in the past.

1. Birth:

John Michael “Mickey” Arthur was born on 17th May 1968 in Johannesburg in the Transvaal Province of South Africa.

2. First-class career:

Arthur scored 6557 runs at an average of 33.45 including 13 tons and 54 fifties in first-class cricket playing for Orange Free State, Griqualand West and South Africa A before retiring in 2001.

3. List A record:

The South African played 150 List A matches scoring 3774 runs at an average of 26.76 including 2 tons and 19 fifties.

4. Playing style:

He was the type of player who commanded respect through his dedication and always showed the attributes of being a good coach. He was not the most stylish or naturally gifted batsman, however, had the temperament and determination needed to succeed in First-class cricket.

5. Entry into coaching:

He coached Griquas in the domestic competition before taking over the Eastern Cape side in 2003, and guiding them to the finals of the Standard Bank Pro20 series in the last two seasons.

6. Coaching the Proteas:

Arthur was considered a slightly surprising choice to take over as the national coach in May 2005, succeeding Ray Jennings. His first two Test series as coach happened to be against a dominant Australia, both away and at home, and South Africa were easily brushed aside. In between, an injury-hit South Africa failed to make the finals of the 2005-06 VB Series.

7. Start of positive results:

South Africa clinched a tense one-day series win over Australia at home, which culminated in that memorable match at Johannesburg that saw the home team overhaul a humongous target of 435 runs. From there on though, South Africa were run quietly, calmly and successfully by Arthur and skipper Graeme Smith; back-to-back Test and one-day series victories against India and Pakistan at home were followed by another Australia-inflicted ouster in the semi-finals of the 2007 World Cup, but South Africa marched onwards in Tests at home were followed by another Australia-inflicted ouster in the semi-finals of the 2007 World Cup, but South Africa marched onwards in Tests.

8. End of a long wait:

Under Arthur South Africa snapped a 43-year hiatus with their first series win in England since the end of apartheid and then overcame the biggest hurdle of them all, a series win in Australia.

9. Move to Australia:

On 26 January 2010, Arthur resigned as the coach of South Africa because of alleged differences between himself and Cricket South Africa. He became the coach of Western Australia and, in November the following year, became the first foreign-born coach of the Australian national team.

10. Unsuccesful stint with the Aussies:

His time with Australia was rife with mediocre showings on the field, though, and team discipline issues off it. It ended with Arthur being sacked from the job, just a fortnight before the much-anticipated 2013 Ashes in England.

11. The case with the Fair Work Commission (FWC):

Arthur had a contract with the Aussies until 2015 but was sacked and replaced by Darren Lehmann. He subsequently filed a case with the Fair Work Commission (FWC) in Sydney, demanding $4 million in compensation or reinstatement as coach. He later revised his compensation claim to far less than the original sum and thereby reached a settlement with Cricket Australia. Arthur kept in touch with the game through various T20 leagues around the world including the inaugural PSL.