Features

Arthur leaves under a cloud

Author: Lynda Collins
Date: 29/01/2010
Cricket betting

Mickey Arthur has quit his role as South Africa cricket coach with many reports suggesting a breakdown in the working relationship between himself and captain Graeme Smith as the cause.

It marks a sour end for Arthur who forged a fine partnership with Smith and he also oversaw the introduction and progression of Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Paul Harris and Hashim Amla's Test careers.

However, 41-year-old Arthur has now vacated his position in the hot-seat and will be replaced temporarily by Corrie van Zyl ahead of their two-Test tour of India.

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On his departure, Arthur said: "All good things must come to an end and now is the time for someone else to take over. The timing is very unfortunate but the international cricket calendar these days means that there is never a good time.

"I am very proud of what the Proteas have achieved while I was coach, especially being ranked number one in both forms of the game in the last 12 months and winning series in England and Australia."

This isn't the first high-profile case of a player-coach dispute in the sporting world and although the Arthur v Smith issue may pass relatively unnoticed, we take a look at previous skirmishes that made the headlines.

Kevin Pietersen v Peter Moores - England's effervescent South African-born batsman Pietersen made his dissatisfaction apparent to the media after a disastrous Test defeat to India in December 2008.

Pietersen, who captained the side, wanted Moores out and, after Michael Vaughan was omitted from the squad to tour West Indies, the tension reached breaking point.

Pietersen said at the time: "Obviously this situation isn't healthy. We have to make sure it's settled as soon as possible and certainly before we fly off to the West Indies.

"Everything has to be hunky dory, everybody has to have the same aims and pull in the same direction for the good of the England team."

Soon into the new year, Pietersen lost his captaincy and Moores was dismissed in an episode the ECB would rather forget.

David Beckham v Sir Alex Ferguson - Sir Alex has had many spats with his former players, namely Roy Keane and Jaap Stam, but his dispute with England's golden boy Beckham was the one for the media.

Manchester United lost 2-0 to arch rivals Arsenal in the FA Cup fifth round at the start of 2003 and Fergie launched a tirade at his under-performing stars. He kicked a stray boot which hit Beckham on the head leaving the England star with a nice gash.

After the incident, Beckham said it was "just one of those things."

Laws v Bonetti - Further down the Football League spectrum, former Grimsby Town boss Brian Laws had a bit of a ding-dong with Italian star Ivano Bonetti.

After a 3-2 defeat to Luton Town in February 1996, now Burnley manager Laws was so incensed, he hurled a plate across the changing room straight into the face of the unlucky Bonetti. The Italian suffered a fractured cheekbone for his troubles.

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