"I'm proud to be leading Pakistan and I'm confident we can aim up against Australia" : Mickey Arthur

[MenInG]

"I'm proud to be leading Pakistan and I'm confident we can aim up against Australia" : Mickey Arthur

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/c...g/news-story/52af82e4fb99fb5b0112418e95a9e647

PAKISTAN coach Mickey Arthur claims he has made peace over his sacking by Australia and is not on a revenge mission this summer.

Arthur was replaced by Darren Lehmann as national coach weeks before the 2013 Ashes in Britain.

Arthur took legal action against Cricket Australia over his sacking before the matter was settled privately.

This summer’s three-Test series between Australia and Pakistan would appear to give Arthur the ultimate chance for revenge but if he is on the hunt to settle old scores he kept it well hidden on Thursday.

“I have made peace long ago,’’ Arthur said as he left Brisbane for Cairns, where the tourists will train and play a warm-up game before the first Test at the Gabba on Thursday week.

“I don’t want the series to be about me and Australia.

‘‘It’s not me versus Cricket Australia by any means.

“It has nothing to do with that, it’s two very good cricket sides going head-to-head.

“I am proud to be leading the Pakistan cricket team but I had some great years with Australia as well.

“I am very confident we can aim up against Australia. We are a very skilled cricket team.’’

Pakistan will play Australia in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney after being beaten 2-0 by New Zealand in a bowler-friendly series.

Pakistan’s batsmen performed so poorly only two reached 50 and none made a century, although Arthur said green decks made for treacherous conditions.

“It’s worth noting the conditions were extremely tough,” he said. “I have never seen so much grass on Test wickets, ever.’’

Pakistan have some exceptional players, such as leg-spinner Yasih Shah and brilliant left-armed quick Mohammad Amir, but poor catching is a big worry.

Amir has had 12 chances dropped off his bowling in eight Tests since returning from six years in the wilderness because of a ban and prison sentence for match fixing.

Arthur has been coaching Pakistan since May and was at the helm when they briefly claimed the ICC world No.1 Test ranking, a remarkable effort for a team who have not played a Test in their homeland for seven years because of security fears.

Arthur said the inclusion of fresh young blood did not necessarily make Australia vulnerable.

“I think you look at it both ways,’’ he said.

“Obviously they are very inexperienced but they are also very good cricketers.

“Australia produces great players and sometimes when you have the exuberance of youth you play with a freedom you sometimes don’t have when you become a settled player and those pressures and expectations become reality.


“They have nothing to lose.

‘‘I saw that with Peter Handscomb in the last Test.’’

One of Arthur’s key roles will be finding a weakness for in-form batsman Usman Khawaja, who was one of four players Arthur and the Australian management dropped during the “homework’’ saga in India.

“I watched his innings in Adelaide and I thought it was a fantastic century,’’ Arthur said.

“Usman is really maturing into a very good player.’’

 

[Boxer]

Mickey better be doing his homework against Usman Khawaja, else this will be a long tour.

 

[ExplicitAI]

He's been doing a lot of talking and did get the results before the NZ tour but this one was a complete disaster. I really do hope that he becomes Mr Tough Guy again for the Aus Tests.

 

[KashifButt]

My first impressions on Mickey were that he would change the way Pakistan Cricket was run, in terms of selection processes where he would get more of a say on who to bring in to the side and who not to due to the worst kept secret among Pakistan Cricket where favouritism is often the reason for certain cricketers getting called up rather than the in form players. However this has not changed to date. Fawad Alam has been left in the wilderness as has Junaid Khan despite their worthy performances in the 'A' side and domestic cricket and the likes of Mohammed Rizwan keeping his place in the squad where he has done nothing to prove himself.

Also another note is the appointment of Inzi. I, among other fans thought he would stop this and, again this has not changed anything in terms of the selection process. I will give them the benefit of the doubt and hopefully like to see the in form players in the forthcoming squads.

 

[honeybadger]

Whatever happened to Misbah?

 

[Pete Rose]

My first impressions on Mickey were that he would change the way Pakistan Cricket was run, in terms of selection processes where he would get more of a say on who to bring in to the side and who not to due to the worst kept secret among Pakistan Cricket where favouritism is often the reason for certain cricketers getting called up rather than the in form players. However this has not changed to date. Fawad Alam has been left in the wilderness as has Junaid Khan despite their worthy performances in the 'A' side and domestic cricket and the likes of Mohammed Rizwan keeping his place in the squad where he has done nothing to prove himself.

Also another note is the appointment of Inzi. I, among other fans thought he would stop this and, again this has not changed anything in terms of the selection process. I will give them the benefit of the doubt and hopefully like to see the in form players in the forthcoming squads.

Selection is not a problem in Pakistan cricket...its just as an excuse that fans use to justify why their team is poor. Rather than accepting that you need to improve as a team or as an individual...the answer is always that if we had selected xyz player things would be different.