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Arthur relishing chance to face Australia

Mickey Arthur is relishing the chance to face the team he was sacked from three years ago when Pakistan tour Australia later in the year.

coach Mickey Arthur
Pakistan cricket coach Mickey Arthur is relishing the chance to face former team Australia. (AAP)

Mickey Arthur's place in Australian cricket folklore will forever be linked to `homework-gate', but the new Pakistan coach says his former side's success shows he was on the right track.

Arthur, who was at the helm of Australian cricket from 2011 until his sacking in 2013, is relishing the chance to face Australia when Pakistan travel to play three Tests and five one-dayers later in the year.

And he has nothing but praise for his successor as Australian coach, Darren Lehmann, who has led the side back to the top of the Test rankings.

"The work that Darren and his staff have done with the players has been very, very good. It's been outstanding," Arthur said.

"You do feel a little bit like you were on the right track in terms of player identification, but who knows?

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"I'm just looking forward to playing against them at the end of the year."

Arthur was sacked from the Australian coaching job on the eve of the 2013 Ashes after failing in the Champions Trophy and copping a 4-0 Test thrashing in India.

The infamous homework-gate saga - where four players including Usman Khawaja were suspended during the disastrous Indian tour - was also pivotal in Arthur's fall from grace.

He said the phrase still grates on him.

"I hate the word homework-gate. And I hate that whole issue," Arthur told NewsCorp Australia.

"But at the end of the day, would I have done it again? Maybe, maybe not. I'm not sure."

Arthur said he had "unfinished business" in international cricket as he takes charge of Pakistan, ranked No.3 in Tests.

He said his experience with Australia and South Africa - where he led the team to No.1 across all formats - has made him a better coach.

"I found that things that really worked with South Africa maybe didn't work with Australia," Arthur said.

"You've got to really adapt to the environment and the culture you're in and then adapt your coaching accordingly."


2 min read

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Source: AAP



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