Arthur eyes Australia coach job

SYDNEY: Former South Africa coach Mickey Arthur said Tuesday he would be interested in coaching Australia's national cricket side if he was offered the role.

Arthur, who guided the Proteas to the top ranking in Test and one-day cricket last decade, has two years left to run on his contract with Western Australia and said he was enjoying his time in the state.

But the 43-year-old said he would consider any approach from Cricket Australia to replace Tim Nielsen, who has to re-apply for his job in the wake of last week's hard-hitting Argus review into the domestic game.

"You'd be foolish not to consider it but, as I've said and I've always said, I'm incredibly happy with the job I've got at the moment," Arthur said.

"I'm incredibly happy working in WA and I'm incredibly happy with the structures we've put in place.

"I'd like to see this job until the end but timing unfortunately is not everything in life and, if something like that (a job offer to coach Australia) did arise, then you'd have to consider it.

"But it's pure speculation at the moment, that's all."

If Nielsen wants to stay on as coach of Australia he will have to re-apply for the restructured role after the current series in Sri Lanka.

But Cricket Australia chairman Jack Clarke was not effusive last week about Nielsen's chances of retaining the post.

"He may well get the job, but it's a different role and in a restructure, you just don't give someone the job in a new role," Clarke said.

The Argus Review of Australian cricket, released on Friday, was sparked by the team's humiliating 3-1 Ashes defeat by England earlier this year.

Nielsen is under pressure, having presided over two Ashes defeats, two Test series defeats in India and Australia's first series defeat against South Africa at home.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2011