Mickey Arthur tells of his shock at being sacked as Australian cricket coach News Limited Cricket writer Malcolm Conn labels the move by Cricket Australia to remove coach Mickey Arthur as 'desperate'. Sacked coach Mickey Arthur at the Cricket Australia press conference in Bristol tonight. Picture: Ella Pelligrini Source: News Limited MICKEY Arthur is "shocked and shattered" at being sacked as Australian cricket coach. As Queensland's Darren Lehmann was rushed into the post, Arthur told News Limited tonight he had no idea a meeting with Australian chief bosses James Sutherland Pat Howard in Bristol on the weekend would result in him being sacked. "I was really, really shocked, " Arthur said from England. I know we have had a few issues but I felt the team was moving in the right direction. I was confident in the team we had and felt the team discipline issue was getting there. I am gutted. I didn't see it coming. Arthur will fly home to Perth tomorrow and despite his South African heritage wants to remain in Australia. The meeting at which he was dismissed lasted only 15 minutes as Arthur learnt that CA's concern over what was perceived to be declining standards of discipline in the team. Mickey Arthur has been sacked as coach while captain Michael Clarke has quit as a selector. It was particularly tough for him because as a coach he feels he has always stood for discipline and team culture, something he managed to cultivate with a South African side that became the world's number one Test team. At a press conference in Bristol tonight Arthur said he gave the job his best effort. I can look back at it and say I've chucked everything it. He found the task of bringing a group of sloppy Australian players including the hot-headed David Warner a greater challenge. Warner's punch that hit English batsman Joe Root was the final straw. CA was angry that there was a delay in reporting the issue and that a group of other players were out with Warner at 2am after a loss to England. The reckless haste of the sacking was illustrated by the fact that Queensland Cricket was left in the dark as their most precious asset - coach Lehmann - was plucked from their grasp. Late today QC had not even been officially informed Lehmann would be the new Australian coach despite his commitments to Queensland in all three forms of the game. Arthur's demise follows a Cricket Australian board meeting in Brisbane earlier this month at which there was general dismay at the declining standards of behaviour, especially the bar-room incident involving David Warner. The pressure generated from that meeting fell heavily onto the shoulders of Sutherland who has been notoriously weak in disciplining players during his decade long stint at the helm of Australian cricket. Sutherland may have saved his own job by sacrificing Arthur in a decision that caught Australian cricket circles by surprise. "I and very shocked by the timing leading in the Ashes, " Test great Allan Border said. Time will tell whether it is the right decision. Arthur has paid the price for the performance of the side whether he is responsible is debatable. He doesn't bat or bowl for them. Leading into the Ashes they obviously thought it was not going to work and he has paid a big price. Lehmann is seen as a coach who is popular with the players but can also be strong when he needs to be.