Co-hosts New Zealand can break their semifinal hoodoo once and for all at the upcoming cricket World Cup, where positive captaincy like that of Mahendra Singh Dhoni in 2011 event, will shape the fortunes of the teams, says former Kiwi skipper Stephen Fleming.
Fleming, who led his side in three World Cups, said the current playing conditions work in their favour and bring captaincy back into a position where the man in charge really can shape the action.
“I believe cricket is the only major sport left where on-field leadership remains fundamental to the outcome of a match. There is no earpiece to the coach and the buck stops with the man in charge,” Fleming wrote in his column for official ICC website.
Fleming cited example of Indian captain Dhoni, who pushed himself up the batting order in the 2011 final against Sri Lanka and the decision paid.
“My relationship with Dhoni at Chennai gave me the chance to talk with him about that decision and he said it was an instinct, that is was his time to lead from the front. Positivity and decisiveness like that can galvanise a team, whereas hesitancy can flow through each player and create paralysis,” Fleming said.
The former left-hander said good communication is also crucial.
“A captain needs to ensure his players know what the team plans are at any given time and he needs to manage players who are not in the playing eleven too. That is essential because in a tournament spread over almost two months cricket becomes very much a squad game. Making those who are not playing feel they are still vital cogs in the wheel is all part of the role of the captain as a man-manager.”
“But for all the attention to the needs of his players and the tournament as a whole, the captain needs to ensure his own form is spot-on. After all, he is usually one of the leading players in a team; anything less that good productivity and the team suffers from not only his lack of productivity but also the fact he is worrying about his own game as well as the team’s requirements.”
