Mickey Arthur
Encyclopedia
John Michael "Mickey" Arthur (born May 17, 1968) is a South African cricketer
who played South African domestic cricket from 1986 to 2001. He coached the South African national team from 2005 to 2010, and has been recently appointed coach of the Australia national cricket team.
, Transvaal
, South Africa
. He is an old boy of Westville Boys' High School
.
and South Africa A before retiring 2001. He started his coaching career by coaching Griquas in the domestic competition before taking over the Eastern Cape side in 2003. In his last two series in charge Arthur managed to guide them to the finals of the Standard Bank Pro20 Series. He was a surprising choice to take over as the national coach in May 2005, succeeding Ray Jennings
.
, both away and at home, during which South Africa were easily beaten. An injury-hit South Africa failed to make the finals of the 2005-06 VB Series
, but they did clinch a tense one-day series win over Australia at home, which culminated in that iconic match
at Johannesburg. A home win over New Zealand
was followed up by a disastrous tour of Sri Lanka
in the summer of 2006, where South Africa lost both Tests and pulled out of a tri-series after a bomb exploded in Colombo
, and failure to make the final of the ICC Champions Trophy. Successes include back-to-back Test and one-day series victories against India
and Pakistan
at home propelled South Africa to the top of the ODI rankings. This was a major boost prior to the 2007 Cricket World Cup
.
South Africa were, however, disappointing at the world cup. They had a roller coaster ride that included dominant wins over England
, the West Indies, Ireland, Netherlands and Scotland, and a narrow win over Sri Lanka, but devastating losses to Australia, New Zealand and Bangladesh that cost them the number one ranking. Then they bowed out in the semifinals with their lowest ever score in a World Cup as Australia bowled them out for 149 and won by 7 wickets.
The preceding two years had been the best in South Africa's test history. Starting with the two home series wins at home against Pakistan and India, Arthur lead the team through a series of 9 unbeaten test series and a number of good one-day results. This streak included wins against India, Pakistan, West Indies, New Zealand and Bangladesh at home and away wins against England, Pakistan, Bangladesh and a credible draw in India.
In 2008 Micky Arthur became the first South African coach to guide his team to a test win in Australia. The team backed up this performance by winning the resulting One-Day International series against the odds. This unexpected 4-1 win meant that they regained the No.1 ranking in the One-Day International rankings .
During the 2005/06 tour to Australia, he questioned the umpiring standards, claiming that the officials were biased due to overappealing by the Australian cricket team
. He was cleared of the charges.
On 26 January 2010 he resigned because of alleged differences between himself and Cricket South Africa. The reports say Cricket South Africa Chief Executive Gerald Majola will oversee the interim selection process with former South African fast bowler Corrie van Zyl
and former South African captain Kepler Wessels
for the two-Test and three-ODI tour of India next month.
Arthur was the coach of the Western Warriors
.
Cricketer
A cricketer is a person who plays the sport of cricket. Official and long-established cricket publications prefer the traditional word "cricketer" over the rarely used term "cricket player"....
who played South African domestic cricket from 1986 to 2001. He coached the South African national team from 2005 to 2010, and has been recently appointed coach of the Australia national cricket team.
Biography
Arthur was born in JohannesburgJohannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, Transvaal
Transvaal Province
Transvaal Province was a province of the Union of South Africa from 1910 to 1961, and of its successor, the Republic of South Africa, from 1961 until the end of apartheid in 1994 when a new constitution subdivided it.-History:...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. He is an old boy of Westville Boys' High School
Westville Boys' High School
Westville Boys' High School, often referred to as WBHS, is a public high school for boys located in Westville, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.-History:2006 marked the 41st anniversary of WBHS as an all-boys' high school...
.
Playing career
Arthur scored 6557 runs playing for Orange Free State, Griqualand WestGriqualand West cricket team
The Griqualand West cricket team is the first-class cricket team that represents the province of Griqualand West in South Africa. For the purposes of the SuperSport Series, Griqualand West has merged with Free State to form the Eagles from October 2004....
and South Africa A before retiring 2001. He started his coaching career by coaching Griquas in the domestic competition before taking over the Eastern Cape side in 2003. In his last two series in charge Arthur managed to guide them to the finals of the Standard Bank Pro20 Series. He was a surprising choice to take over as the national coach in May 2005, succeeding Ray Jennings
Ray Jennings
Raymond Vernon Jennings is a former South African cricketer. He was one of South Africa's leading wicket-keepers during the apartheid era....
.
Coaching career
He had a tough introduction into international cricket with his first two Test series as coach happened to be against a rampant AustraliaAustralian cricket team
The Australian cricket team is the national cricket team of Australia. It is the joint oldest team in Test cricket, having played in the first Test match in 1877...
, both away and at home, during which South Africa were easily beaten. An injury-hit South Africa failed to make the finals of the 2005-06 VB Series
VB Series
The Australian Tri-Series refers to the one day international cricket tournament held between 1979-80 and 2007-08 between the home side and two touring teams, in the height of the Australian cricket season, i.e. during the summer months of December, January and February. Between 1979–80 and 1995–96...
, but they did clinch a tense one-day series win over Australia at home, which culminated in that iconic match
Australia in South Africa, 5th ODI, 2006
The 5th One Day International cricket match between South Africa and Australia was played on 12 March 2006 at New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg. The match broke many cricket records, including both the first and the second team innings score of over 400 runs. Australia won the toss and elected to...
at Johannesburg. A home win over New Zealand
New Zealand cricket team
The New Zealand cricket team, nicknamed the Black Caps, are the national cricket team representing New Zealand. They played their first in 1930 against England in Christchurch, New Zealand, becoming the fifth country to play Test cricket. It took the team until 1955–56 to win a Test, against the...
was followed up by a disastrous tour of Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan cricket team
The Sri Lankan cricket team is the national cricket team of Sri Lanka. The team first played international cricket in 1926–27, and were later awarded Test status in 1981, which made Sri Lanka the eighth Test cricket playing nation...
in the summer of 2006, where South Africa lost both Tests and pulled out of a tri-series after a bomb exploded in Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
, and failure to make the final of the ICC Champions Trophy. Successes include back-to-back Test and one-day series victories against India
Indian cricket team
The Indian cricket team is the national cricket team of India. Governed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India , it is a full member of the International Cricket Council with Test and One Day International status....
and Pakistan
Pakistani cricket team
The Pakistan cricket team is the national cricket team of Pakistan. Pakistan, represented by the Pakistan Cricket Board , is a full member of the International Cricket Council, and thus participates in , and cricket matches....
at home propelled South Africa to the top of the ODI rankings. This was a major boost prior to the 2007 Cricket World Cup
2007 Cricket World Cup
The 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup was the ninth edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup tournament that took place in the West Indies from 13 March to 28 April 2007, using the sport's One Day International format...
.
South Africa were, however, disappointing at the world cup. They had a roller coaster ride that included dominant wins over England
English cricket team
The England and Wales cricket team is a cricket team which represents England and Wales. Until 1992 it also represented Scotland. Since 1 January 1997 it has been governed by the England and Wales Cricket Board , having been previously governed by Marylebone Cricket Club from 1903 until the end...
, the West Indies, Ireland, Netherlands and Scotland, and a narrow win over Sri Lanka, but devastating losses to Australia, New Zealand and Bangladesh that cost them the number one ranking. Then they bowed out in the semifinals with their lowest ever score in a World Cup as Australia bowled them out for 149 and won by 7 wickets.
The preceding two years had been the best in South Africa's test history. Starting with the two home series wins at home against Pakistan and India, Arthur lead the team through a series of 9 unbeaten test series and a number of good one-day results. This streak included wins against India, Pakistan, West Indies, New Zealand and Bangladesh at home and away wins against England, Pakistan, Bangladesh and a credible draw in India.
In 2008 Micky Arthur became the first South African coach to guide his team to a test win in Australia. The team backed up this performance by winning the resulting One-Day International series against the odds. This unexpected 4-1 win meant that they regained the No.1 ranking in the One-Day International rankings .
During the 2005/06 tour to Australia, he questioned the umpiring standards, claiming that the officials were biased due to overappealing by the Australian cricket team
Australian cricket team
The Australian cricket team is the national cricket team of Australia. It is the joint oldest team in Test cricket, having played in the first Test match in 1877...
. He was cleared of the charges.
On 26 January 2010 he resigned because of alleged differences between himself and Cricket South Africa. The reports say Cricket South Africa Chief Executive Gerald Majola will oversee the interim selection process with former South African fast bowler Corrie van Zyl
Corrie van Zyl
Cornelius Johannes Petrus Gerthardus van Zyl in Bloemfontein, Free State is a former South African cricketer who played two One Day Internationals in 1992...
and former South African captain Kepler Wessels
Kepler Wessels
Kepler Christoffel Wessels is a former South African cricketer who captained South Africa after playing 24 Tests for Australia. He was the first man to have played One Day International cricket for two countries....
for the two-Test and three-ODI tour of India next month.
Arthur was the coach of the Western Warriors
Western Warriors
The Western Australia cricket team are an Australian first class cricket team representing the state of Western Australia...
.