Why can't bowlers be Australian captain?

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May 30, 2006
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I think Mid On (trawling a few youtube videos which is frustrating and spotty way to try and find out ), most captains are either mid on or slip. It's the best positions to manage things from. 88 tests 28 catches rules out any significant time in slips.

But your avergae fast bowler, is hardly a great fit for slips or mid on.
I think so, at least for one day games when captain. I think Wasim Akram may have captained from fine leg at times. Its perhaps not a big issue with experienced bowlers, but having a proven performer at mid-on/mid-off (whether captain or not) can be a benefit for inexperienced ones.
 
Apr 27, 2014
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A) Rotation. B) Objectivity.

Non spinners get rotated too often. You need someone who will at least be a shot at playing every test.

Also, the captain's most important role on the field is picking bowlers and setting fields. A bowler captain will always be tempted to overbowl himself in some attempt to "lead from the front." And then if he doesn't bowl himself in the big moments, you know parts of the media will wonder if he was too scared.

Bottom line, if there is at all even a passable option out of the batsmen and keeper, they should always be captain ahead of a bowler.
 
Sep 23, 2006
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A) Rotation. B) Objectivity.

Non spinners get rotated too often. You need someone who will at least be a shot at playing every test.

Also, the captain's most important role on the field is picking bowlers and setting fields. A bowler captain will always be tempted to overbowl himself in some attempt to "lead from the front." And then if he doesn't bowl himself in the big moments, you know parts of the media will wonder if he was too scared.

Bottom line, if there is at all even a passable option out of the batsmen and keeper, they should always be captain ahead of a bowler.

Don't see Cummins getting rested too often. Likewise can't recall Imran Khan ever getting rested.

Can't see Cummins lacking objectivity either.
 

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Sep 26, 2012
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wy bowlers have too much junk to deal with so physically it is harder to be a bowler and a captain..
a batsman is there and he is going to scrap as much as the best of them...

but they are seen as a cheap shot of the team.. they are not seen as bold and confronting and cannot captain the team as well.
 
Sep 26, 2012
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Don't see Cummins getting rested too often. Likewise can't recall Imran Khan ever getting rested.

Can't see Cummins lacking objectivity either.
they don't actually say a lot about their role in the prospect of their position... they just run an get back and run... they don't charge hard...
 
Jan 6, 2004
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It's not going to happen while bowlers are being rotated, i guess if you had a jimmy anderson type who basically went years without missing a game it could work but on our decks with how much hard work the bowlers have to put in having them skipper the side seems like a bridge too far.
 
Sep 23, 2006
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Thanks for that. Cummins has fielded at mid on plenty. Can see no reason why he couldn't follow in Khan's footsteps who was one of Pakistan's most successful captains ever. As outlined below.

Beating Australia 3-0 and then India 3-0 at home in 1982-83.

Beating England in England and India in India in 1987.

Winning an international ODI tournament in India in 1989.

Winning the 1992 World Cup.

Captaincy Record: 48 Tests: 14 Won; 8 Lost; 26 Drawn. 139 ODIs: 75 Won; 59 Lost.

So now we'll find out.
 

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