Mickey Arthur’s precise man management and familiarity with the Proteas makes him an ideal candidate to regain the South Africa coaching role, writes Craig Stirton.
As the curtain is drawn on a dismal World Cup showing by the Proteas, a coaching staff shake-up may be in the offing. Perhaps a mentor from the Proteas’ past may be the man to lead them into the future and beyond.
When pondering whether any overseas-based coaches may be in the running for the Proteas job, one name sprang to my mind: Former South Africa coach Arthur.
Though Arthur was in charge when the Proteas infamously crashed to 149 all-out against Australia in the 2007 World Cup semi-final, the South African’s coaching credentials are readily apparent.
Many forget that Arthur was in charge when the Proteas completed the unthinkable by successfully chasing the mammoth 434 set by Australia in the Wanderers series-decider in 2006.
For a coach to lift his side off the canvas after such a hammering and will them on to victory is no mean feat, and should be not be forgotten in a hurry.
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Lest we forget that Arthur, along with former captain Graeme Smith, led the Test outfit to South Africa’s first Test series win in Australia in 2008-9 while also completing a Test series victory in England for the first time since 1965 en route to the summit of the Test rankings.
In the years since Arthur’s resignation in 2010, though his Australian tenure was short and sour, his ability to guide an unheralded Pakistan team to Champions Trophy glory in 2017 is yet another feather in his cap.
This World Cup too has seen Arthur’s terrific man-management come to the fore evident in Pakistan’s ability to rebound from the humiliation of posting just 105 against West Indies to trounce hosts England by 14 runs just four days later.
It is worth noting that after a poor start to their World Cup campaign, it was rumoured that Arthur’s contract wouldn’t be renewed by the Pakistan Cricket Board. Though the PCB quashed such rumours, the national body did say that a performance review would take place after the World Cup. It remains to be seen, however, whether four wins on the trot to end the tournament will earn Arthur a reprieve.
That Arthur has a good understanding of Cricket South Africa and the way the national cricket body operates gives him a distinct advantage over other contenders for the top job. By the same token, CSA knows exactly who they are getting – A coach that consistently gets the best out of his players and knows how to help them rise to the big occasion.
Finally, Arthur’s appointment in 2005 coincided with the formative years of South African greats such as Dale Steyn, AB De Villiers, Hashim Amla and Morne Morkel to name but a few. He thus knows what it means to nurture talent and mould his players into a team of world-beaters.
Perhaps it is wishful thinking to even consider that such a scenario may materialise, but a step back into the past may just be the answer for the Proteas.
Photo: Pakistan Cricket Board/Twitter
