Cricket: Arthur appointed Australia coach

SYDNEY:

South Africa’s Mickey Arthur was appointed Australia’s new head cricket coach two months after Tim Nielsen quit, completing a sweeping revamp of the way the team is run.

The 43-year-old is the first non-Australian to be handed the job and will assume the reins for the first Test against New Zealand in Brisbane on December 1, promising to bring a ‘fresh, unblinkered eye’ to the role. “I’m honoured to have another chance to coach an international team, particularly a team of the ilks of Australia,” said Arthur, who has also coached South Africa. “I think I bring a fresh, unblinkered eye to the role after plotting against Australia when coaching South Africa.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 23^rd, 2011.