Former South Africa cricket coach Mickey Arthur was yesterday named the new head coach of Australia, just hours after his new charges completed a tense two-wicket victory over his old team in Johannesburg.
The 43-year-old was in charge of the Proteas from 2005 until last year and he had most recently been coaching Western Australia. His contract runs until after the 2015 World Cup, to be jointly held by Australia and New Zealand.
Arthur was presented at a press conference at Cricket Australia’s headquarters in Melbourne, having beaten out the challenge of former New Zealand coach Steve Rixon.
“I am honored and privileged to have another chance to coach an international team, particularly a team of the ilk of Australia,” he said in a Cricket Australia statement.
“I think I bring a fresh, unblinkered eye to the role after plotting against Australia when coaching South Africa and having now worked within the Australian system [with Western Australia]. Australia has an abundance of cricket talent and I am confident the talent is there to ensure Australia is successful,” the statement said.
Former coach Tim Nielsen resigned after Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka in September, with Troy Cooley in charge on an acting basis for the team’s tour of South Africa.
The appointment of a head coach was part of the review that Cricket Australia undertook following their Ashes series loss to England earlier this year.
Cricket Australia have already appointed John Inverarity as the new full-time chairman of selectors, with former Test players Rod Marsh and Andy Bichel as part-time selectors. Captain Michael Clarke is the fourth selector. Arthur will also act as a selector.
Arthur’s first series in charge will be a two-Test series against New Zealand, starting next month, before Australia host India for a four-Test series starting on Dec. 26 and then play a triangular one-day international series against India and Sri Lanka that begins in February.
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