• The Skipper of a side has to be really as cool as a cucumber and should be someone who isn’t prone to panic under pressure. After all his team mates would be looking up to him for his support during the pressure cooker situations. With the demands of a fast paced game where fortunes fluctuate between the two sides within the span of few deliveries, a captain having a cool temperament is all the more vital.
• Problems should be thought over logically, both on and off the field.
• A good captain is a good judge of the characters of his players. He needs to know how to get the best out of his mates and how to exploit the feasibilities and shortcomings of his opponents.
• On the field it is of prime importance that the captain is good in assessing a batsman’s strength and weakness. And based on that he can use the bowlers who he thinks can trouble that particular batsman and give him the results. Accordingly he can also rotate his bowlers cleverly.
• As in any battle, there are valid tactical reasons to attack, defend and retreat. Never be afraid to attack the strength of the man at the crease and set him a trap to get him out. The same shot which gives a particular batsman lot of runs can sometimes also turn out to be his downfall! Isn’t it?
• A Captain must know his team foibles and failings, not all players are the same! Each has his own unique personality and each person might have to be dealt in a different manner from the other. Different players react in different ways in the same situation and respond to different treatment by the captain. Some give their best after being hurt by forcibly expressed criticism, while you can nag to get the best out of some players, others might need that gentle encouragement. To sum it up a few harsh words or a few words of expressing confidence and encouragement to the players to get them to their best and yes it depends on the individual whether you go for the harsh words or words of encouragement.
• Having talked about all the above points, it is also important for a captain to have the ability and the wisdom in reading the wicket. Only after reading the wicket properly that he can decide whether to bat first or bowl first and then plan up the strategy of what kind of bowling composition would be suitable on the kind of wicket given. And I tell you people, reading a wicket is not an easy task at all!
• The ideal temperament of a captain is difficult to say, but an extrovert always has an advantage over the introvert. He must be able to mix up with his team mates comfortably and mingle with them in a relaxed environment. The natural loner finds this extremely hard.
0 replies:
Post a Comment