Coach gives tardy Aussies with attitude a dressing down
(03-13 10:55)
Australia’s coach Mickey Arthur said a team culture including unacceptable “back-chat'' and “attitude’’ forced him to dump four players for the next cricket test in India. Australia have been humiliated n India, losing two tests.
The move to suspend vice-captain Shane Watson, James Pattinson, Usman Khawaja and Mitchell Johnson has polarized opinion in Australia, with commentators calling it one of the most sensational decisions in decades, AFP reports.
Arthur said it was the culmination of “lots of small minor indiscretions that have built up to now’’ and would be looked back on in years to come as a “defining moment’’ for Australian cricket.
But with Australia due to play two Ashes series against England this year, starting in July, Arthur said the attitude issues had to be nipped in the bud.
“Being late for a meeting, high skinfolds [body fat], wearing the wrong attire, back-chat or giving attitude are just some examples of these behavioral issues that have been addressed discreetly but continue to happen,'' he said.
In justifying the firings, skipper Michael Clarke said the players had shown a lack of respect for Arthur, with a general slide in attitudes on the Indian tour.
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