The English cricket team now has three captains. A wise move, or a blunder?
On the same day that British voters went to polls on electoral reform, the English cricket team took the initiative in showing them a new leadership structure. In an out-of-the-box move, the team will now have three captains, one for each format of the game?Test, ODI and T20. This decision came after incumbent captain Andrew Strauss decided to relinquish his ODI captaincy. He?s still the test captain, but leadership of the ODI team has gone to his vice-captain Alastair Cook, and the T20 captaincy has gone to the young Stuart Broad. Now, two captains, one for tests and another for the other two formats, is an idea tried and tested. Australia tried it with Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke, Pakistan with Misbah-ul-Haq and Shahid Afridi. Even India tried it a few years ago, with Dravid and Dhoni. In England?s case, not only is the choice of three captains a break from the norm, but the individuals chosen are also under question. Strauss as test captain is fine, he?s talented and experienced, and after all, led England to an Ashes victory. And most captains see test cricket as their last bastion of leadership before they retire, anyway. Cook, however, is a different question. He wasn?t even chosen in England?s World Cup squad, and hasn?t had a place in limited over cricket for 14 months. However, he?s seen as potential test captain material, and towards that end, this experience in leading the team will come in handy. Stuart Broad, known equally for his skill with the ball and his petulance, hasn?t captained a side since his school days. Also, T20 being the batsman-friendly format it is, a bowler-captain is a questionable, if brave, move.
That said, this strategy has a chance of success. England ranks third in tests, and it will take an experienced captain like Strauss to keep them there (let alone displace Australia and India from second and first). In ODIs, England is lower in the order, and could do with some new leadership to spark things up, especially after its dismal performance in the World Cup. As far as T20 goes, England are the defending champions. Young, exuberant leadership can only help.
