Mickey Arthur, the "Meat in the Sandwich" in Cricket Australia Alleges Racial Discrimination, Sues for $4M
Arthur Discriminated Against for Being Native South African
The sensation behind the firing of Australia's national cricket coach Mickey Arthur came as a surprise to David Warner who believes his behaviour off the field may have contributed to the sacking, following a lacklaslustre performance in the Champions Trophy against India.
Arthur has claimed he will sue Cricket Australian for firing him. The former coach is asking as much as $4 million for his dismissal from the team. As an alternative, he is ready to come back to his job.
He is also charging the Oz Cricket Australia with racial discrimination, since he was born in South Africa. Arthur is the first foreign coach to lead the Aussie cricket team. He complained that there was a bias against him since he was new to the ‘Australian way.’
CA challenged coach Arthur about failing to correct the disciplinary problems flaring up in his team.
According to a report by Seven Network television, Arthur has filed papers in court requesting compensation for his contract running up to 2015. The salary for the Aussie coach was an annual figure of $400,000 in addition to bonuses of $200,000 per year.
Arthur described himself as the "meat in the sandwich" in the Seven report, bringing attention to the heated row between Shane Watson and captain Michael Clarke.
Lack of discipline among team players was a primary reason cited for Arthur's release from the coveted job he held. Losing to India in the Champions Trophy was another factor that worked against Arthur. It was during this match that Warner had thrown a punch against the England player.
The lack of discipline charges stem from Warner's misbehaviour in a Birmingham pub when he punched Joe Root an England player after a defeat to India in the Champions Trophy.
"It was probably another thing that was gutting, that I may have played a part in that," Warner was quoted as saying by Indian TV station, Zee News.
Warner, 26, was warned with a ban for the bar-punch incident, while missing the first Ashes test against England.
"I still feel the guilt of what happened. I feel myself it`s led to me being in this situation at the moment," he told reporters as he was heading back home.
Warner told reporters that the new coach for Cricket Australia Darren Lehmann told him to "go out there and score runs and be myself," adding, "Just get that X factor back that I can have for this team," reports Agence France Presse.
"No one needs to tell you that because you already know it," Warner was quoted as saying by AFP.