Taking The Mickey: The Inside Story by Mickey Arthur

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Mickey Arthur was one of SA’s longest-serving and most successful coaches. In 2008, along with the national team, he created history when the Proteas beat both England and Australia on their own turf. Since the world ranking system was introduced to international cricket, Australia has been the only other team to achieve this feat.

In 12 tours ‘down under’ spanning almost a century, South Africa has never managed to win a Test series in Australia. But Arthur, captain Graeme Smith and the rest of the team overcame incredible odds to chase a toal over 400 in the first Test in Perth. They faced what seemed certain defeat in Melbourne to win again and take an unbeatable 2-0 series lead. South Africa became the top ranked team in Test cricket. Soon after they became the top ranked ODI team.

But behind the scenes, things weren’t always progressing smoothly. Whereas Arthur would do anything for the team, his umcompromising approach to administrators and refusal to be dictated to by men he believed were ‘out of touch’, was beginning to count against him.

But there was nothing ominous about the players’ collective form and spirits were high as the squad prepared for a tour to India. The tour was to all intents and purposes a Test match ‘world championship’ between the two nations ranked first and second in the world.

A week before the team’s departure, Arthur ‘resigned’. He was given no choice and never elaborated on the reasons for his untimely dismissal. Until now…