The Ashes 2013

Some fucking catch by Cook that.

Game over.

BESEIGED cricket coach Mickey Arthur will return to Australia on Saturday as controversy rages over his apparent claims of a huge rift between Michael Clarke and Shane Watson.

As reported in The Daily Telegraph last week, Arthur is suing Cricket Australia for up to $4 million after he was sacked in the aftermath of David Warner’s bar room altercation with England batsman Joe Root.

In court documents obtained by Channel Seven, Arthur has made explosive allegations of racial discrimination and also infighting between Test captain Clarke and all-rounder Watson.

Arthur has been in South Africa with his family since his sacking to attend the funeral of his mother. He told The Daily Telegraph this week that he would be returning to Australia on Saturday. Arthur did not return calls on Tuesday night.

The timing of the document release could not be worse for the Australian cricket team, coming just days before they prepare to meet England at Lord’s in the second Ashes Test.

Clarke and Watson have spoken positively in the past about the state of their working relationship, but Arthur’s claims stand in stark contradiction.

The public release of the documents will mean both players face unwanted attention and pressure in the days before a crucial Test match.

According to Channel Seven’s report, Arthur allegedly described the role of Watson's faction in the Test team as a cancer.

Arthur claimed that Clarke embraced the need for discipline, while Watson did not.

Arthur also revealed Watson was the player who tipped him off about Dave Warner's rowdy night out where the Australian opener punched Root at a bar.

Warner was subsequently fined $11,500 and suspended from the tour matches leading into the Ashes.

Arthur is also understood to have alleged that he was discriminated against because of his South African background and said he was not supported by his Cricket Australia employers through the "homeworkgate" affair in India.

Then vice-captain Watson, bowlers James Pattinson and Mitchell Johnson and batsman Usman Khawaja were axed from the third Test in Mohali for failing to complete a team survey.

Seven also reported Arthur felt he was discriminated against due to his South African background and because he "didn't understand the Australian way".

Cricket Australia's legal counsel Dean Kino said of Arthur's claims: "We are disappointed it has come to this position. I am sure that it will get resolved in an appropriate fashion."

I'm not sure, I reckon this is a road. Expect England to struggle to make inroads with Bresnan instead of Finn as well.

Saying that, it's important to remember that Swann will probably fancy this on day 5 so you have to fancy England if the first innings totals are clost to parity.

I think your forgetting how fragile our batting line up is.

This is going to be an awesome series though.