A great cricket captain is the one who shoulders the responsibility of guiding his team with excellent leadership skills and planning without losing his composure and necessary aggression to take bold decisions to win the match.
MS Dhoni, Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh had these qualities that elevated them to become perhaps the most fantastic skippers in the history of cricket. They commanded their troops from the front to take the game head-on and used their defeats as the stepping stone for the success to come.
If you wonder what features these legends possess, you are at the right place to find out precisely what is required for becoming a great cricket captain.
Here are the principles that make a great cricket captain:
1- A successful skipper must possess a thorough understanding of the game. It includes cricketing laws and regulations and researching opponents before the game to tackle real match situations.
2- In the most stressful situations, when most players crumble under pressure, it becomes a captain’s duty to keep a calm and composed outlook to think from various perspectives to gain the upper hand in the game.
3- A great cricket captain must know his team from every angle before finding the ways to subdue an opponent. A skipper must know his teammates’ unique strengths and weaknesses to form plans accordingly.
4- A captain needs to take responsibility for his decisions whether the outcome turns out to be favourable or not. Legendary captains have owned their mistakes at the biggest stage to improve their captaincy skills.
5- Captains like MS Dhoni and Ricky Ponting always lead their team from the front by giving great individual performances to inspire their teammates to do the same. A captain’s intensity about his game affects the entire team.
6- A player can only become a great captain if he recognises talent and gives chances accordingly. Newcomers can bring in the new energy and transform the entire team’s personality, so a captain needs to provide fair opportunities to such extraordinary talent.
7- A captain needs to display professionalism and great sportsmanship to raise the bar of his team. A gentlemanly behaviour on the field is an identification mark for a great cricket captain.
8- A captain should be open to criticism and suggestions from everyone, including coaching staff, teammates, and even fans who support and love the game. Great captains have always been receptive to ideas and criticisms that can improve their team.
Also read: Learn The Basics Of Reading A Cricket Pitch