Best ODI and Test Skippers?

[The Hitman]

Have had a few arguments with a few people over the captains and where they stand. Here are my thoughts...

Best ODI Captain: Stephen Fleming
He knows what to do in pressure situation, he sets good fields and sets great traps, he knows who to bowl and when, and he is never afraid to go after something. In my mind, the best ODI captain on earth.

Best Test Captain: Steve Waugh
I don't care if he made India follow-on last year, when some smartarses reckon they'd bat again. Any smart captain would have sent them back in - no one could have predicted Laxman and Ganguly's stand.

Anyway, that wouldn't take this title away from Waugh, whose leadership and captaincy guided us to a record amount of consecutive test wins last year, and keeps us at the top of the test cricket world.

No one gets close.

Most Overrated Captain: Shaun Pollock
Gun player - too bad he doesn't know how to captain a side.

South Africa will never beat Australia in a test while this guy is at the helm. He is just too bloody defensive against us. His field settings are useless, and I think he doesn't bowl himself enough.

At ODI level, he is slightly better, but that's because he has Rhodes and Kallis who actually make his field settings look good. His bowling changes are all over the shop, and while they'll win games, they won't win a World Cup under Pollock - they would be exposed later in the tournament.

While I'd love him in the Australian side, I wouldn't want him anywhere near the captaincy.

What do you think?

The Hitman

[PiesPremiers]

I dont agree with anything you just said...but did you expect me to?
Steve Waugh isnt the best captain in the world. He has the best side to captain in the world. Makes the job a hell of a lot easier when your team bats down to number 9, and more than half the side are reasonable bowlers.

Stephen Fleming is a good captain...as we've heard on channel 9 for the last week. You've been listening Brett, good boy!

South Africa have always been defensive when playing Australia. Hansie Cronje set the trend and he was the one Pollock had been talking with before they come out here. Its they're game against Australia, i dont agree with it, but thats they're game...i'd hate to see what Australia would do to they're side if they attacked, with guys like Klusener bowling pies and getting hammered around the park.
They lack a good all rounder like a Chris Harris...(which country doesnt) Someone to bowl slow, but on the spot and stop the scoreboard from ticking over, and then when its time to bat, bat with the tail and win games off his own bat...

What do you think, Brett?

[The Hitman]

Defensive post - just like Pollock's captaincy. ;)

One thing you didn't address though. You thoroughly disagreed with me, which is fair enough, but where's your answer?

So Waugh isn't the best test captain? Who is? So what if Cronje set a precedent, doesn't mean Pollock can't break it, especially when it obviously doesn't work. Fleming could have won the World Cup with New Zealand in England, Dan. We should have lost to them.

His tactics make him the best, both of them, in my mind. It is also where Pollock lacks. Critisize mate, but at least offer a different answer and justify it.

The Hitman

[Player]

Originally posted by The Hitman

Fleming could have won the World Cup with New Zealand in England, Dan. We should have lost to them.



New Zealand did beat Australia in the last World Cup before losing to Pakistan in the semis.

Before the US entered WWII Churchill once said in a speech intended for the USA "Give us the tools, we will finish the job."

Applies to Fleming's captaincy. He has had to creatively manage nothing for so long that now he has some weapons he is not afraid to implement orginial, and surprisingly well thought out tactics.

Still I wouldn't get to excited about winning 3 from 4 OD and a draw test series just yet.

A lot of planning has gone into the NZ campaign this year, unlike the South Africans who have apparently just turned up cold. Word is that during the recent Ashes series Ian Smith was not only commentating, but complying a dossier on each of the Australians, and the effectiveness of English tactics.

You're right thou, I don't think Pollock is capable of really captaining a side. He has his routine and is unwilling to adapt to the circumstances surrounding him.

As a result South Africa is the ultimate team of champions, instead of a champion team.

[dogboy23]

South Africas game plan has no flexibility about it.They try to suffocate sides by bowling a tight line and employing tight defensive fielding positions.It works to a degree but they struggle to stay faithful to it in big games.Australias stroke makers are one of the only teams capable of disturbing there game plan enough.Steve Waugh owes the fact that he has the captaincy to Tom Moody who was brought in to the side in the world cup for the sole reason that Waugh didnt know what he was doing.Since then he has grown into the role but is still in my view learning in the role.Flem is a great captain because he backs his players to carry out attacking game plans.Hitter Steve Waugh should not have sent them back in it was obvious to everyone watching the game.I didnt predict Laxman playing that sort of innings but I did however predict a huge indian score.;)

[SeinDude]

The Hitman,

I agree with you about Steve Waugh being the best test captain at the moment for the reason that he is not afraid to back his team in any situation. Most times it works but every now and then, like in England with Butcher or in India with Laxman & Dravid it doesnt & we lose. I guess it does help if you have the players in your team to do the job, but Steve leads by example with his batting & has faith in his players which gives them more confidence.

As for the best one-day captain, I dont think it really matters a hell of a lot in this form of the game as most tactics & fielding options are similar for each team.

Chris Cairns didn't do a bad job Thursday night I thought, especially when he threw young James Franklin the ball when it was tight towards the end. He showed faith in his young left-arm bowler and Franklin didnt let his captain down.

SeinDude

[The Doctor]

These are the best skippers I have seen in my years of following cricket

Tests

Australia - Ian Chappell

International - Clive Lloyd

One Dayers

Australia - Alan Border

International - Arjuna Ranatunga and Imran Khan (tie)

[GoEagles]

I think Jonty Rhodes would be a better captain for South Africa than Polly Pollock at the moment.