Pakistan coach Arthur sticks to guns

Mickey Arthur is back in England with a new challenge, to get the best out of a mercurial Pakistan cricket team - including Mohammad Amir.

Mickey Arthur has arrived in England in charge of his third national team wiser from past experiences but adamant he will stick to his chosen methods.

On his last UK tour, the Arthur way did not work as Australia dispensed with his services just weeks before the 2013 Ashes and after an unsuccessful Champions Trophy campaign.

The South African apparently paid the price too for a discontent lingering within the squad from the saga which became known as 'homework-gate' after four senior players were disciplined for failing to complete an assignment he devised during a preceding tour of India.

Arthur is back in England with a new challenge, to get the best out of a mercurial Pakistan team - including Mohammad Amir.

The brilliant left-armer will return at Lord's next month for his first Test since the 2010 spot-fixing scandal, at the same venue - which resulted in a jail term and five-year bans for him, then captain Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif.

Arthur's return is obviously less controversial but nonetheless a major stepping stone little more than a month into his new job.

He acknowledges his learning curve since parting company with Australia three years ago.

"You go back and analyse and think about it and I've obviously learnt a hell of a lot from that experience," said the 48-year-old.

"But I haven't changed my style because I don't think you could compromise on what you think is the right way to work ... on your core values and principles."

He hints that there was more to events than was widely-publicised.

"I am sick and tired of talking about 'homework-gate' and the way it's been reported is totally way off the pace of what happened.

"But in terms of running teams, there are ways of doing it - and that's how you get your ultimate success."

As for Pakistan's prospects against England in the four-match Investec series, starting next month, Arthur is optimistic for a team he believes have more natural ability than any other he has coached.

"It has been an eye opener," he said.

"The skill levels the Pakistan team have are unbelievable.

"The ability to do things the other two teams I've coached couldn't do is incredible."


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3 min read

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Source: AAP



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