Mickey Arthur dumped as Australia cricket coach Mickey Arthur has been sacked two weeks out from the start of Ashes series Source: Herald Sun MICKEY Arthur has been sacked as coach of the Australian cricket team and will be replaced by Darren Lehmann. The news comes on the eve of an already destabilised Ashes campaign, with the first Test of the series in England to start on July 10. Lehmann will be announced as Arthur's replacement later tonight. The 43-year-old Lehmann is renowned as a shrewd thinker during his playing career of 27 Tests and 117 one-day internationals. He won the Sheffield Shield and one-day titles with the Bulls while also steering Brisbane Heat to the Big Bash League title. Lehmann has also coached in the Indian Premier League with Kings XI Punjab and the defunct Deccan Chargers. Cricket Australia's board has approved the change of positions via a phone hook up and chief executive James Sutherland broke the news to Arthur in Bristol overnight. The side has struggled through a number of disciplinary issues and Arthur was perceived to be too soft on the players. The South African was appointed to replace Tim Nielsen in the wake of the Argus report into Australian cricket and has worked closely with captain Michael Clarke for 18 months. Arthur had previously coached South Africa and was in the same role at Western Australia when he got the Australian job. It is understood he will be offered a position at the Centre of Excellence. Stuart Law will be offered the Queensland job. Australia's Test side comes together tonight Australian time in Bristol where they will be greeted by the new coach who has been in England with the A team. Sutherland and high performance manager Pat Howard will give official reasons for Arthur's axing at a press conference in the UK at 9pm Australian time..