'Sacked' Arthur says Clarke, Howard, Sutherland could lose jobs if Oz lose winter Ashes

Former Australian coach Mickey Arthur has said Cricket Australia (CA) heavyweights James Sutherland, Pat Howard and even captain Michael Clarke are in danger of losing their jobs if England beats Australia to win a fourth consecutive Ashes series in the winter.

Arthur, who was sacked by CA only 16 days before the summer Ashes series, was made the fall guy for a disintegrating team culture that had reached its lowest ebb as Australia were thrashed 4-0 in India in February and March.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Arthur believes that the futures of CA chief executive Sutherland, Howard and Clarke are on the line in the five-Test series starting in Brisbane on November 21, adding that some 'serious heads could roll' if Australia does not win this Test series

Arthur said that there are some serious players in CA under a lot of pressure around this Test series, adding that if they lose the Test series there is going to be a lot of questions asked.

Although Sutherland has been the great survivor of Australian cricket's decline and has been credited with capitalising on Australia's relationships abroad and filling cricket's coffers with broadcasting revenue, he has also been fingered for allowing the development of cricketers in Australia to slide via complacency, the report added.