Australia have sacked head coach Mickey Arthur just 16 days before the start of 2013 Ashes series in England
Australian coach Mickey Arthur has been relived of his duties as Australian coach, just 16 days before the start of the 2013 Ashes series in England.
The South African, 45, has been replaced by Australia A head coach and former Yorkshire-opener Darren Lehmann.
The former Proteas batsman had been extensively criticised following a poor ICC Champions Trophy campaign as well as numerous disciplinary issues within the squad.
In March this year, Arthur disciplined four first team players after they failed to submit presentations.
Vice-captain Shane Watson, Mitchell Johnson, James Pattinson and Usman Khawaja were all dropped for the third test match against India. Watson was the only player to return to the side on that tour as he captained the side during the fourth-test due to captain Michael Clarke being injured.
“Naturally I’m very disappointed with how this has all ended,” Arthur told BBC Sport.
“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.
“We need the team to be absolutely unified if we’re any chance of beating the English.
“I do not feel let down by the players at all. You live and die by the sword. The disappointing thing is that I thought we were nearly there to cracking it.
“It has been a very challenging 18 months and I think the future is bright for Australian cricket.”
Lehmann, 43, has two warm up matches with the first team squad prior to the opening test match which starts at Trent Bridge on July 10.
The first four-day match starts on Wednesday against Somerset before they play Worcestershire next week.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan believes Lehmann, who he played with during their time at Yorkshire, will be a success with the Australian national side.
Discipline issues have surrounded the Aussies in recent weeks and especially one individual in particular.
Opening batsman David Warner was suspended from all games until the opening Ashes test match following a bust-up in a Nottingham nightclub with England all-rounder Joe Root.
Warner, who was dismissed for just nine, in his only game of the ICC Champions Trophy was also fined £7,000 for his late-night bust up.
Prior to that Warner had been fined just short of £4,000 after he posted abusive comments about journalists on his Twitter account.
It is expected that Australia could be a much tougher force under Lehmann ahead of the back-to-back Ashes series after he led the Aussie A side to victory over Gloucestershire at the weekend.
Words: Adam Grice
Photo: http://www.news.com.au
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