To become a successful cricket captain, there are many factors you will need to take into account. No matter the ability, experience or motivation level of your team, certain aspects of the 'art of captaincy' remain the same. Read on for some advice on how to make sure you get the best out of your side.
Many successful captains, including former Ashes-winning England skipper Michael Vaughan, have used innovative and effective field settings to marshall their side to great successes. Vaughan's habit of placing fielders in the positions the opposition least expected was one of his most obvious traits as a captain, and the number of wickets picked up by his England side thanks to his knowledge of how to set a field was incalculable.
Here you can find tips on how to ensure you set the best field for your particular game plan. Setting a field is one of the most important aspects of captaincy, and will ensure you are able to construct effective game plans for any situation.
Picking Your Bowlers
The art of choosing who to bowl and when is made to look easy by captains such as Australia's Ricky Ponting, who once had the luxury of both all-time great seamer Glenn McGrath and all-time great spinner Shane Warne as regular members of his bowling attack; in truth, however, knowing your bowlers is one of the most important aspects of captaincy.
Here you can discover how to harness your knowledge of your bowlers and get the best out of their abilities, while ensuring that each of them contributes to a more successful overal team effort.
Motivating Your Players
Legendary Australian captain Steve Waugh had a habit of using the literary workings of the legendary Chinese warlord Sun Tzu to motivate his team; that team would go on to become one of the most consistently successful cricket teams of all time, winning 15 consecutive Test matches in the early 2000s. Motivation is integral to the success of any team, regardless of their level of ability or experience.
Here you can find out about how to maintain you players' motivation, no matter what their circumstances. Part of the beauty of sport, and cricket in particular, is that people play it for so many different reasons. Everyone has their own expectations of what they will get out of the game, and their own reasons for participation, and you can learn how to manage these expectations effectively and improve your team's performance.
Matthew Pitt - Matthew Pitt is a 21-year-old writer from Dorset, in Southern England. He is currently studying for an MA in Transnational Studies at the ...
