News

Arthur ends talk of England job

Mickey Arthur has ruled himself out of taking over as England's new coach after committing to his current deal with South Africa

Cricinfo staff
08-Apr-2009
Mickey Arthur will be staying with South Africa at least until the 2011 World Cup  •  Getty Images

Mickey Arthur will be staying with South Africa at least until the 2011 World Cup  •  Getty Images

Mickey Arthur has become the latest high-profile figure to withdraw his candidacy for the England coaching position. Arthur's commitment to his current contract with South Africa, which expires in April 2012, has installed Andy Flower as an unbackable favourite to assume Peter Moores' former post.
"It was flattering to be considered and then contacted but it was made pretty clear to me that I would have to walk away from my contract with Cricket South Africa and negotiate a release, which is something I would never do," Arthur told the Guardian. "As I said right from the start, I've never made a secret of my ambition to coach in England one day - I had always hoped it would be with a county - but who knows what might happen in the future?
"But I remain absolutely committed to the Proteas and looking forward to all the challenges we have coming up. At least there won't be any more speculation now."
Arthur joins Graham Ford, Gary Kirsten, John Buchanan and Tom Moody as those to have turned down approaches from the ECB's head-hunting firm in regards to the coaching position. The ECB have outlined their intention to appoint the new team director before the first Test against West Indies at Lord's, on May 6, but with only Flower and John Wright understood to be on the short-list, an announcement could be made much sooner.
Buchanan, who is hoping to secure a consultancy role with the ECB, yesterday added his backing to Flower. "Obviously Andy Flower, who is currently doing the job and was assistant coach prior to previous coach leaving, has a good insight into how the team operates and the sort of dynamic he would like, and therefore the sort of structure and people he would like around him," Buchanan told Cricinfo.
Despite a difficult and occasionally fractious winter, in which England managed to win just three rain-shortened one-day games against the West Indies, Flower's chances of securing the coaching position improved in recent weeks. The one-day series win provided hope that England might finally have turned the corner after the damaging Pietersen-Moores split, and Flower's blossoming relationship with Andrew Strauss, the recently installed England captain, is seen as a major plus.
"I think he did an excellent job in the West Indies and we could work together," Strauss said. "There will be other people who are just as qualified to do the job. The sooner the appointment is announced, the better."