Captaincy has more thorns than roses

How the responsibilities of captaincy vary! Here is an assessment of all the captains in the year 2000 by VIJAY LOKAPALLY.

IF ONLY he had a Viv Richards and a Malcolm Marshall, the West Indian skipper Jimmy Adams would have dealt appropriately with those ridiculing the West Indies for its current state. Pitiable no doubt but not worthy of such condemnation.

Captaincy comes with more thorns than roses but in the case of Adams it has come wrapped in misery and mediocrity too. He has neither the bowlers nor the batsmen to stand up to the might of the Australians and nothing has pained the cricketing fraternity more than the incredible decline of a team which once did not know what losing meant. Today, it has forgotten the aesthetic value of a victory.

Everyone would like to be in the shoes of Steve Waugh, leader of a ruthless army which has trampled all opposition with clinical precision. To be leading a gifted combination that Waugh proudly commands can be the biggest privilege. The invincible Australian team of today matches the aura of the unbeatable West Indians under the captaincy of Clive Lloyd, who must be a sad man, watching the rapid deterioration in the ranks of West Indian cricket.

Leading Australia has been a great honour for Steve Waugh and he has maintained the tradition established by Mark Taylor, author of the team's revival after Allan Border had sown the seeds with his no-nonsense approach.

How the responsibilities can vary? Steve Waugh has a rich variety to pick from while Adams' worries increase with every match. The situation is no different for Heath Streak, whose first thoughts revolve around how to avoid a defeat. Here is an assessment of all the captains for the year 2000:

Steve Waugh: Obviously he stands tall among the captains because he is backed by a team which is quite formidable and well- balanced in every department. The confidence level is high and the captain leads from the front, performing with the bat and marshalling the resources. Australia could maintain its winning streak even without the presence of Brett Lee and Shane Warne and that speaks for its awesome strength. To lead Australia can be the best job in the cricketing world today and none can do better than this great motivator.

Shaun Pollock: He should come next for his ability to keep the team together. The matchfixing scandal and Hansie Cronje's involvement had left the South Africans shattered but this cricketer, mentally very tough, was able to overcome the emotions and managed to focus on his job quickly. Some success and some failures taught him useful lessons as he led a bunch of determined cricketers on a hard journey, the destination still some distance away.

Nasser Hussain: He was in the same boat as Jimmy Adams. He took over at a critical period when critics lampooned English cricket every time the team stepped on to the field. But this man led the team most professionally, bravely facing criticism and each time promising to come back. That he did it with remarkable wins at home (against the West Indies) and away (against Pakistan) showed his resolve. And also the team's desire to live up to the hopes reposed in them by a captain who understood the meaning of collective strength early and was able to implement the ideas adeptly.

Moin Khan: He was always doing a tight rope walk, trying to get the best out of the youngsters; coping with the egos of the seniors and keeping a healthy relationship with a high-profile coach in Javed Miandad. This man has always believed in leading by example and his quality to strike an excellent rapport with his mates was the biggest factor in this chirpy wicketkeeper- batsman keeping his job despite a few setbacks to his team's reputation, particularly the series losses at home against Sri Lanka and England, not to forget the defeat in the West Indies. He was close to being sacked but his quality to communicate with his mates well helped him keep the job.

Sourav Ganguly: A wonderfully quick transition to the new job. Never did he show any nerves and signs of being burdened with the responsibilities. His captaincy was nothing to rave about, what with a few controversies showing him in poor light, but his success with the bat in the one-dayers was exemplary. A home triumph against Zimbabwe saw him end the year on a high note after having accepted the job during a difficult period when Sachin Tendulkar lost both the Tests as captain against South Africa at home.

Stephen Fleming: Struggled with the bat but managed to write a new chapter when he led his team to its first ever one- day title at Nairobi. The ICC knockout tournament saw New Zealand promise a lot but it failed in South Africa. Fleming also had the honour of winning against Zimbabwe in an away series but he essentially managed to retain the team's enthusiasm to keep improving.

Sanath Jayasuriya: Excellent show in limited overs cricket after he had to handle a team which lost the services of trusted veterans like Arjuna Ranatunga and Aravinda de Silva. This explosive opener made strides as a captain who could handle the team involved in a process of transition. An ideal man to lead the team, knowing his ability to motivate and strike a balance between the players and the administrators.

Jimmy Adams: A most forgettable year for this humble cricketer. Losing at home and losing abroad has left this left- hander shattered. His failure has been the result of a collective collapse of West Indian cricket even though he played a crucial role in that pulsating one-wicket win over Pakistan at Antigua. If any captain deserved sympathy, it was this affable Jamaican.

Heath Streak: A captain with always a smile on his face. He assumed the job when Alistair Campbell could not cope with the pressure and this gentle giant impressed with his excellent behaviour, if not always the performance.

Naimur Rehman: A new entrant to the elite world of Test cricket, he could take pride in his team's performance against India at Dhaka. Naimur's success with the ball was an inspired show after Aminul Islam had shone with the bat. A good man to be at the helm for a team joining the ranks of nine other Test nations.

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