"If we're deadly serious about getting back to number one in the world, all players need to raise the bar and lift their game.
"If not, we must be content at being number three or four or five in world cricket because we won't get any better. The players won't learn and we'll continue a vicious cycle.
"Let's be absolutely clear.
"The decision to suspend Shane Watson, Mitchell Johnson, James Pattinson and Usman Khawaja for not adhering to a team request is the defining moment, but it has been a culmination of lots of small minor indiscretions that have built up to now."
It's not clear whether Watson, Pattinson, Johnson and Khawaja are responsible for any of these other breaches revealed by Arthur.
However, Howard said on Tuesday that some of the four had previously slipped up, while others had a clean sheet.
Arthur, the former coach of South Africa, said the past two days have been the toughest of his career.
"The last week and a half since the end of the Hyderabad Test has been the toughest in my 11 years coaching," he said.
"The media reaction to this decision was like none I've seen in my coaching career and has certainly divided opinion.
"It is a strong message to everyone in Australian cricket that if you want to play for the Australian cricket team, then we demand excellence. Corner-cutting, taking short-cuts or arriving with a bad attitude will no longer be tolerated.
"We want to be the Spanish football team, Manchester United or McLaren of world cricket.
"The absolute pinnacle where high standards are not expected, they are second nature.
"Australian cricket fans deserve nothing less."
AAP bh/jb
-AAP
