Mickey Arthur
Former National Coach of the Australian cricket team/ Former coach of South African cricket team/ Former coach of WA (Western Warriors), motivational speaker.
John Michael (Mickey) Arthur was coach of the South African National Cricket Team (Proteas) from 2005 to 2010 and the Australian cricket team from 2011 to 2013. Born in Johannesburg, Gauteng, Mickey played for both Griqualand West (1986/87 -- 1989/90 and 1995/96) and Orange Free State (1990/91 -- 1994/95). He was a right-handed batsman.
Mickey was the type of player who commanded universal respect through his dedication and always showed the attributes of being a good coach. He managed to score a total of 6,557 runs playing for Free State, Griqualand West and South Africa before hanging up his boots in 2001. He commenced his coaching career by coaching Griquas in the South African domestic competition before taking over the Eastern Cape side in 2003. In his last two series as coach Mickey managed to guide the team to the finals of the Standard Bank Pro 20 Series. He was selected as coach of the South African National Cricket team in May 2005, succeeding Ray Jennings.
He had a tough introduction into international cricket as his first two Test series as coach happened to be against a rampant Australian team, both away and at home, during which South Africa was easily beaten. An injury hit South Africa failed to make the finals of the 2005-06 VB Series, but they did clinch a tense one-day series win over Australia at home, which culminated in an iconic match at Johannesburg which has been acclaimed by many media commentators as being the greatest One Day International Match ever played. The match broke many cricket records, including both the first and the second team innings score of over 400 runs.
A home win over New Zealand was followed up by a disastrous tour of Sri Lanka in the summer of 2006, where South Africa lost both tests and pulled out of a tri-series after a bomb exploded in Colombo. Successes then flowed with back-to-back Test and one-day series victories against India and Pakistan at home which propelled South Africa to the TOP of the One Day International rankings. This was a major boost prior to the 2007 World Cup in which South Africa had a roller coaster ride that included dominant wins over England, West Indies, Ireland, Netherlands and Scotland, and a narrow win of Sri Lanka but lost to Australia, New Zealand and Bangladesh which cost them the number one ranking.
The preceeding two years turned out to be the best in South Africa's test history. Starting with two home series wins in South Africa against Pakistan and India. Mickey led the team through a series of nine unbeaten test series and a number of good One Day International results. This streak included wins against India, Pakistan, West Indies, New Zealand and Bangladesh at home and away wins against England, Pakistan, Bangladesh and a credible draw in India.
In 2008 Mickey became the first South African coach to guide his team to a test win in Australia. The team backed up this performance by winning the resulting One-Day International series against the odds. This unexpected 4-1 win meant that they regained the number one ranking in the One Day International rankings.
After leaving his role of Coach of South Arica in January 2010, Mickey took over as Head Coach of the W.A. State men's team, the Western Warriors in May 2010. After only 18 months in the role he was appointed as National Coach of the Australian cricket team in November 2011, one of the most prestigious positions in world cricket. He coached the Australian cricket team until June, 2013.
Former National Coach of the Australian cricket team/ Former coach of South African cricket team/ Former coach of WA (Western Warriors), motivational speaker.
John Michael (Mickey) Arthur was coach of the South African National Cricket Team (Proteas) from 2005 to 2010 and the Australian cricket team from 2011 to 2013. Born in Johannesburg, Gauteng, Mickey played for both Griqualand West (1986/87 -- 1989/90 and 1995/96) and Orange Free State (1990/91 -- 1994/95). He was a right-handed batsman.
Mickey was the type of player who commanded universal respect through his dedication and always showed the attributes of being a good coach. He managed to score a total of 6,557 runs playing for Free State, Griqualand West and South Africa before hanging up his boots in 2001. He commenced his coaching career by coaching Griquas in the South African domestic competition before taking over the Eastern Cape side in 2003. In his last two series as coach Mickey managed to guide the team to the finals of the Standard Bank Pro 20 Series. He was selected as coach of the South African National Cricket team in May 2005, succeeding Ray Jennings.
He had a tough introduction into international cricket as his first two Test series as coach happened to be against a rampant Australian team, both away and at home, during which South Africa was easily beaten. An injury hit South Africa failed to make the finals of the 2005-06 VB Series, but they did clinch a tense one-day series win over Australia at home, which culminated in an iconic match at Johannesburg which has been acclaimed by many media commentators as being the greatest One Day International Match ever played. The match broke many cricket records, including both the first and the second team innings score of over 400 runs.
A home win over New Zealand was followed up by a disastrous tour of Sri Lanka in the summer of 2006, where South Africa lost both tests and pulled out of a tri-series after a bomb exploded in Colombo. Successes then flowed with back-to-back Test and one-day series victories against India and Pakistan at home which propelled South Africa to the TOP of the One Day International rankings. This was a major boost prior to the 2007 World Cup in which South Africa had a roller coaster ride that included dominant wins over England, West Indies, Ireland, Netherlands and Scotland, and a narrow win of Sri Lanka but lost to Australia, New Zealand and Bangladesh which cost them the number one ranking.
The preceeding two years turned out to be the best in South Africa's test history. Starting with two home series wins in South Africa against Pakistan and India. Mickey led the team through a series of nine unbeaten test series and a number of good One Day International results. This streak included wins against India, Pakistan, West Indies, New Zealand and Bangladesh at home and away wins against England, Pakistan, Bangladesh and a credible draw in India.
In 2008 Mickey became the first South African coach to guide his team to a test win in Australia. The team backed up this performance by winning the resulting One-Day International series against the odds. This unexpected 4-1 win meant that they regained the number one ranking in the One Day International rankings.
After leaving his role of Coach of South Arica in January 2010, Mickey took over as Head Coach of the W.A. State men's team, the Western Warriors in May 2010. After only 18 months in the role he was appointed as National Coach of the Australian cricket team in November 2011, one of the most prestigious positions in world cricket. He coached the Australian cricket team until June, 2013.
