Arthur sacking was justified, says Sutherland

CA chief hails team’s new mindset after Ashes win.

SYDNEY: Cricket Australia (CA) head James Sutherland on Wednesday said Australia’s comprehensive Ashes victory justified the decision to sack Mickey Arthur as coach, hailing the team’s new mindset.

South African Arthur was fired just 16 days before the start of the Ashes in England earlier this year after a shambolic Test series in India that Australia lost 0-4.

Darren Lehmann was drafted in as his replacement and while Australia lost the series on English soil 0-3, he has turned around their fortunes, with the home side retrieving the Ashes in Perth on Tuesday to take an unassailble 3-0 lead in the five-Test series.



“I think Darren’s played a fantastic role,” said Sutherland when asked if the result justified Arthur’s dismissal.

“Certainly looking back on it now, it looks like a pretty good decision doesn’t it?”

After the victory on Tuesday, Clarke made clear Australia have no plans to ease up in the last two Tests in Melbourne and Sydney, with the team aiming for a 5-0 whitewash to keep alive their dream of becoming number one in the world.

Sutherland said it was this attitude that summed up what Lehmann had brought to the team.

“We’ve obviously had reviews and had some difficult times over the last two or three years, but the plan has always been to look for sustained success, not just a win here or there.”

Siddle relishing upper hand in duel with Pietersen

Maintaining a stranglehold over England batsman Kevin Pietersen gives Peter Siddle a great deal of personal pleasure, said the Australian paceman on Wednesday.

Siddle dismissed Pietersen for the 10th time in Tests when the flamboyant batsman mistimed a pull and was caught by a leaping Mitchell Johnson in the first innings at Perth.

“He’s obviously inflicted a lot of pain on us over the years, so to see the back of him is always nice,” said Siddle. “To be the one to get him, it does bring a lot of joy to myself personally, but also the team.”

An in-form Pietersen can tear apart any bowling attack and Siddle said he relished the challenge of bowling to the best in the business.

“It just comes down to the challenge — you want to challenge yourself against the best players in the world and he’s one of those,” he said.

“I rise to the challenge and try to build as much pressure on him as I can. I’m lucky enough to get him, but it could be anyone in the side.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 19^th, 2013.

Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.