Former coach Arthur criticises Ntini in book

Former South Africa coach Mickey Arthur has criticised recently retired bowler Makhaya Ntini in a new memoir, accusing the Proteas' first black player of using race to keep his spot on the team.

Former South Africa coach Mickey Arthur has criticised recently retired bowler Makhaya Ntini in a new memoir, accusing the Proteas' first black player of using race to keep his spot on the team.

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In excerpts of the autobiography published in the Saturday Star newspaper, Arthur wrote that Ntini complained to cricket officials that he had been left off the one-day national team in 2008 because Arthur and captain Graeme Smith didn't want black players in the team.

Arthur said in reality the reason Ntini was left out was poor form.

"That was when I lost a bit of respect for Makhaya, and saw a side of him I never suspected existed," Arthur wrote.

"Everybody, especially senior players, is upset when they are dropped, but I was desperately disappointed when Makhaya started telling influential administrators that Graeme Smith and I didn't want black players in the team."

Arthur's autobiography, Taking the Mickey: The Inside Story, is due to hit the shelves on Monday.

Ntini, the first black to represent South Africa at senior level, drew praise this week for his pathbreaking role in cricket after announcing his retirement from international play on Tuesday.

The 33-year-old holds the South African records for the best Test bowling and ODI figures, and is the only South African to take 10 wickets at Lord's, considered by many to be the home of cricket.