'It's all Mickey's fault'

Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin yesterday took a swipe at former coach Mickey Arthur, criticising the South African for being insecure and saying he set the team back.

Haddin said Arthur's successor, Darren Lehmann, has turned around Australia's dressing room and demeanour ahead of tomorrow's first Ashes Test against England at the Gabba.

As England shoot for a fourth straight Ashes triumph, Haddin said Arthur, who was Lehmann's predecessor, has a lot to answer for.

"[Mickey] was very, very insecure and that came across in a lot of our selections and our plays, I think, to be perfectly honest," Haddin said.

"I think [the brand of cricket we want to play] got lost in the period that Mickey had a hold of us.

"I don't think he understood and was secure enough in himself to get us to where we needed to go.

"Under Darren we've got a clear message of where we want to go and how we're going to get there. He's able to help guys on the way to get to that point."

In a shambolic Test tour of India earlier this year that Australia lost 4-0, Shane Watson, James Pattinson, Mitchell Johnson and Usman Khawaja were all disciplined by Arthur after failing to submit feedback requested by team management.

They were axed, with Watson controversially sent home.

Haddin went to India as a replacement for injured wicketkeeper Matt Wade and described the mood within the Australia team as uncomfortable and paranoid.

"That wasn't the Australian cricket team that I knew when I flew into Mohali," he said.

"That was a unique situation which in all seriousness I can't really explain. It was uncomfortable, walking into it.

"Guys jumping at shadows and the insecurity around everything that was being done.

"It's just refreshing to get back here now and enjoy the game for what it is - a great game that's been great for all of us."

Arthur, who was replaced by Lehmann only 16 days before the first Ashes Test in the last series, reached a settlement with Cricket Australia after taking legal action against them when he was dumped with two years to run on his contract.