Arthur's biographer says 'not surprised' at axing over Oz's reluctance to accept foreign coaches

Sacked Australian coach Mickey Arthur's biographer has said that he is not surprised that Arthur has been removed from his position as a coach of the national team, given their unwillingness to accept a foreign coach, particularly a South African one.

The South African's legal team has included racial discrimination among the grounds of a reported four million-dollar claim against CA, with Arthur saying that it was not his intention for sensitive information, including details of a feud between Michael Clarke and Shane Watson, to be made public, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Stating that no one should be surprised that Arthur was told by CA that 'he didn't understand the Australian way', Arthur's biographer Neil Manthorp said that he does not think that the word discrimination which has been included in the suit against Cricket Australia (CA), was intended to be interpreted or used in a racial basis, adding that that Arthur was always going to find it difficult to succeed in elite Australian sport.

According to Manthorp, the contents of what was supposed to be highly confidential legal papers was an interpretation of the working environment in which Arthur felt that he was not able to perform his duties to the best of his abilities.

Arthur was sacked last month on the eve of the Ashes and with two years to run on his Australian contract, the report added.