Fortnight to Ashes, coach Mickey Arthur is sacked

AUSTRALIA'S Ashes campaign has descended further into chaos after the sacking of national coach Mickey Arthur two weeks before the first Test.

AUSTRALIA'S Ashes campaign has descended further into chaos and Cricket Australia's management is being questioned after the sacking of national coach Mickey Arthur two weeks before the first Test.

Former Australia player Darren Lehmann will replace the South African, whose sacking halfway through his four-year contract - and on the morning the Ashes squad assembled in England - provided some cheer for English fans, who had watched their side choke and lose the Champions Trophy final hours before.

The axing is the latest in a series of controversies that have rocked the preparation of the visitors, who are due to play the first Test in 15 days. Batsman David Warner is suspended from two warm-up matches after a series of indiscretions, injured captain Michael Clarke has not played a game since arriving, all the batsmen apart from Chris Rogers - who played one Test five years ago - are in poor form and the side has become a laughing stock in the local press.

It was announced yesterday that Clarke would no longer have a say in the selection of the team in a bid to ease pressures on his captaincy.

Arthur's sacking shocked players, who woke yesterday to find the news had broken in Australia while they slept. One spoke of finding out via Twitter when he went to the bathroom during the night.

The squad has been split up during the Champions Trophy and A tour but was to come together last night in Bristol, arriving at the hotel where management was holding a news conference to explain the decision.

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said that, despite the unfortunate timing, it was a decision deemed necessary. "The timing is far from ideal but we didn't feel we could sit back and hope matters would change without addressing issues critical to a high-performing team culture," Mr Sutherland said. "It obviously isn't the type of change we want to make three weeks out from the Ashes commencing but we believe a change is needed."

He said discipline, consistency and accountability for performance were all "key ingredients that need to improve - and we see that the head coach is ultimately responsible for that".

It is understood the move to sack Arthur gained momentum in Australia last week and was approved by the board, which also ticked off on the Lehmann appointment. Mr Sutherland flew to England with high-performance manager Pat Howard to deliver the news to the coach, who was appointed in November 2011, three months after the Argus report into cricket governance was handed down.

Arthur said in a statement he understood why the decision was made. "Naturally I'm very disappointed with how this has all ended," he said. "I certainly wanted to see the job through but I accept that the team hasn't been completely galvanised under my leadership and our performances have been inconsistent. I'm certainly a believer in good culture and traditions, much like all Australians, and feel we were starting to get a shift in the right direction. We certainly need the team to be absolutely unified if we're any chance of beating the English."

Arthur will now take some time out with family and friends, but he hopes to continue his career in cricket coaching.

Mr Sutherland was known to be upset with the way management handled the axing of four players, including vice-captain Shane Watson, from the Mohali Test in March after they failed to file some written "homework".

While the appointment of Lehmann has been applauded by many, most could not understand the timing so close to the Ashes series.

Former Test bowler Damien Fleming said: "I'm shocked at the timing of it . . . appointing Lehmann is a good move, he was very popular within the team, he is not afraid to confront people and he can have an argument with you and forget it five minutes later. He'll be good for the young blokes. I know Darren can change
the culture and environment very quickly but the whole team and management need to be held accountable for what has happened."