Australia's new coach Mickey Arthur 'proud' to accept post

Melbourne, Nov 22(ANI): Newly appointed Australia's cricket head coach Mickey Arthur has said he is proud to assume the post.

"To be coaching a team of the ilk of Australia is something I'm very, very proud about," the Herald Sun quoted him, as saying.

"I think I bring an unblinkered view, a view that having coached and analysed against a lot of Australian players during my time, but also having worked in the the Australian system for the last year and a half I think I have got pretty much a really good idea of where we need to go with the team and what we need to do to have sustainable success over the next period of time," he added.

Though he is the first foreigner to become national cricket coach, he said he has great affinity with Australia.

Arthur, 43, who is presently the coach of Western Australia, would be relieved with immediate effect and take over before Australia's Test series against New Zealand beginning for December 1 onwards.

South African cricket team scaled the first rank in all three formats of the game during his tenure as the coach in 2005-10.

Arthur's contract is valid till the 2015 World Cup. (ANI)