Arthur feels tenure as Oz coach 'undermined' by CA's view on discipline 'approach'

Former Australian coach Mickey Arthur has said that he felt his tenure as a head coach was 'undermined' by mixed messages from Cricket Australia (CA) about his approach to discipline within the team.

Arthur, who was famously sacked just two weeks out from the start of the summer Ashes series held last year in England, was a part of the management group that suspended four players for a Test in India.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, although subsequent events like David Warner's barroom punch during the 2013 Champions Trophy appeared to have vindicated CA's decision to change coaches, however Arthur feels that there was a lack of respect shown to him by CA over his perceived 'soft' discipline approach.

Stating that he was 'hurt' by CA's attitude, Arthur also said that he wanted the players to know what the values were and what was expected of them when they came into the Australia cricket team, adding that even though he felt the team needed to be grabbed by the scruff of the neck, CA still doubted his abilities to manage the team.

Arthur also said that he took complete responsibility for everything that happened with the team, adding that the team was functioning well before he was dumped.

Arthur's sacking triggered a damaging lawsuit, later settled, and it was left to incoming coach Darren Lehmann to restore a sense of enjoyment some players felt had been missing from the dressing room, the report added.