England Still Brings Out The Best In Coach Arthur
There has been plenty of talk of one-sided home series in the past few years. Easy to forget, though, that Pakistan’s four Test series against England back in 2016 was one of the most absorbing of recent times.
Now, with the tourists returning to English soil again, they have the perfect man at the helm to ensure a repeat.
Mickey Arthur’s record in England is rapidly becoming the stuff of legend. He led South Africa to a series win here in 2008 – winning 2-1 in a series that culminated in a tearful Michael Vaughan surrendering the captaincy – before leading Pakistan to a series draw in the Test series two summers ago.
He then defied extraordinary odds to lead the same side to the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017, thrashing a previously rampant England by eight wickets in the semi-final at Cardiff before winning the hearts of everyone back home by sending India packing in the finale at the Oval.
For a country that hadn’t played a competitive match in their home country since 2009, Arthur was rightly hailed as a miracle worker. And the sight of him in the opposition dressing again as this international summer begins could well be enough to bring an under-pressure Joe Root out in a cold sweat.
Arthur laughs when The Cricket Paper suggests that he has some kind of hold over England, but admits that it’s a place that holds a special place in his heart.
“I do love it here, I have to say that,” he says. “I always look forward to coming here, as a cricketer a tour of England is as good as it gets.
“Having the first Test at Lord’s too is something that every cricketer, regardless of who you’re playing for, looks forward to.
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