Coach Arthur wants Australia to be Manchester United of cricket
In a report published in The Sun, Arthur has been quoted as saying that nothing short of high standards are expected from members of the national cricket team.
Australia's embattled cricket coach Mickey Arthur has said that his team can become the Manchester United of cricket. The South African said this while explaining the decision to axe four players from the side on displinary grounds.
In a report published in The Sun, Arthur has been quoted as saying that nothing short of high standards are expected from members of the national cricket team.
"We want to be the Spanish football team, Manchester United or McLaren of world cricket. The absolute pinnacle where high standards are not expected, they are second nature. This is a line in the sand moment. A point we'll look back on in a couple of years' time when we're back to number one in the world and say was a defining moment."
Four players including vice-captain Shane Watson were axed after they failed to submit an assessment report asked for by coach Arthur. While opinions about the punishment remains divided, both Arthur and captain Michael Clarke have since, repeatedly talked of setting high standards in the side.
"The last week and a half since the end of the Hyderabad Test has been the toughest in my 11 years coaching. Some people have commented it's been one of the biggest stories in Australian cricket for a decade or more. This decision was about sending a strong message that it is about time all players had some accountability for their actions," Arthur said.