Just what Australian cricket doesn't need

Australia came within a whisker of winning the first Ashes test at Trent Bridge. That in itself was remarkable. But it's all the more remarkable when you consider the dysfunctional state of the Australian cricket.

And allegations of dysfunction aren't going to go away any time soon; Cricinfo reports:

Former Australia coach Mickey Arthur has reportedly claimed in legal documents that Michael Clarke described Shane Watson and his faction as "a cancer" on the national squad, while also alleging he was the victim of racial discrimination during his time with the team.

The Seven Network has reported the documents tendered to the Fair Work Commission in Sydney, which form part of Arthur's claim for up to AUD 4 million in compensation from Cricket Australia or his job back after his sacking last month, two years before his contract was due to expire. The network reported that the documents claimed "major tension" between Clarke and Watson, and that Arthur felt he was "the meat in the sandwich" between them.

Arthur has released a statement on the leaking of the documents, describing his distress at their details becoming public. "I am extremely upset and disappointed that confidential documents appear to have been given by others to the media," Arthur said. "The matters raised in my application to the FWC concerning issues within the Australian cricket team are very sensitive, which is why I was at pains to keep them confidential, especially at this time.

"I have kept them confidential,unfortunately others have now made them public. I want to stress how important to me the members of the team were, and still remain to me. The welfare of the Australian cricket team is upmost to me."

Arthur's legal representation confirmed allegations of racial discrimination and scapegoating. "We can confirm that last week Mickey Arthur filed proceedings on a number of grounds in the Fair Work Commission (FWC) Sydney for being sacked and scapegoated," a spokesperson for Arthur's law firm said. "The grounds include racial discrimination. This legal action was filed confidentially with FWC as Mickey was at pains to resolve this issue privately." 

And Australian captain Michael Clarke has been forced to put up the shutters and stonewall as the side prepares for the second Ashes test:

Speaking at Lord's on Tuesday, Clarke said the airing of the team's dirty laundry would not be allowed to derail their preparations for the second Ashes Test.

"First I'm not going to get involved in it, the most important thing is that we as a team are as focused as we can be on Thursday," Clarke said. "We've obviously got a huge game in front of us, the boys are feeling great, as we showed in the last Test match we're here to fight and do as well as we possibly can in this Test series, and I think we showed that the other day." 

This is the last sort of news that needs to be coming out as the Australians prepare for a crucial test match. It certainly seems as there is a significant rift between Clarke and former vice-captain Shane Watson. Neither really prospered with the bat at Trent Bridge, and despite Clarke's insistence that the Australian dressing room is united, you can't help but wonder whether the cracks have merely been papered over.

Naturally, the English press will seize upon this and stir the pot no end. If the boot was on the other foot, the Australian media would do exactly the same, with considerable relish.

We'll be off to bed early tonight. With the second Ashes test and the Open Championship at Muirfield starting tomorrow night, and the Tour de France reaching the alpine stages, sleep may be a precious commodity for the rest of this week.