It's the third edition. Some changes surely. Mike Brearley, is a respected psychoanalyst and author and one of England's finest captains.
A captain's job involves holding contradictions in balance - indulging team mates yet keeping a tight leash, micro managing every dimension of team life yet with a light touch. It is about tweaking levers of influence and about planning right down to rest and pre-match warm up and training sessions. He needs to draw the balance between individual and group motivation and success, between planning and intuition, between discipline and freedom, between conscious thought and instinct, between intervention and letting be, between seeking opinion and being in command. He says the captain must know that no two lions (players) are alike. What I liked most was that he says that as he wrote the book, Brearley discovers that he badly wanted to win - which is perhaps what made him find the answers, go through the fear.
Clearly he says, the captain is responsible for results - specially losing. It's his job to get everyone together, keep the herd together. He should be flexible in his approach tactically and deploy whatever skills players have at their disposal. He has to get the best out of the team without suppressing flair and uniqueness. Each captain is different, so just be natural and find your own way.
A captain has to have the long term and short term perspective, understand tactical and psychological aspects of the game. No matter what, a captain should not panic whatever the situation. Don't be helpless, look for options. Take advise. Most importantly - don't be afraid to lose - don't be too defensive. A captain should also have a good memory to repeat patterns, find weaknesses and strengths. He should be alive to different possibilities of attack and defence, experiment and convention. He should give clear roles to his players and give clear directions while motivating his bowlers.
In choosing a captain, the old story of class vs charisma is long gone. One has to choose the best suited person in terms of leadership ability, skills to fit into the team, knowledge of the game, who brings tactical shrewdness, brings the best out of his players - and through all that delivers best results.
The best players need not be the best captains. The qualities required of the captain are - courage, integrity, fairness, goal driven and who can take people along. He must care for his team, be a learner and a motivator and be good at planning ahead. The captain should avoid nepotism, class distinctions, elitism. He should be an avid reader of the game and its history. Most importantly he should not hesitate to take the unpopular stand.
A captain, once appointed, takes stock of his resources - assesses, plans and prepares. He understands the strengths and weaknesses of his team. He establishes his approach clearly - to win in whichever way he prefers. He plans for practice and coaching - pre-season and pre-match, fitness and net practice. He needs to be involved in building a successful side. He should have data such as videos of players at nets and matches to analyse and coach to improve. He needs to understand pitches, get information about them, have a sense of the injuries to players and how to manage them and have replacements ready. He should certainly be good enough to deal and discuss with other stake holders.
As a part of the selection committee he should have no cliques, no favorites, he should not be too close to the boys and maintain complete confidentiality. He should be able to take calls such as not changing a winning side or picking horses for courses. Ideally pick the best wicket keeper, and have specialist bowlers to take wickets. Go with form where possible. Have clarity of goals like winning each game. Look for character in his players.
A captain can insist on a time table for training and fielding practice where they practice close in and out field practice. He should get acquanited with ground conditions by talking to the groundsmen and others.
The captain must ensure a healthy dressing room atmosphere. He must get his team to behave like a team and help each other out in the middle and out side. He gives the example of how he and Randall once chased a huge total by putting a target of 15 minute segments and trying to survive the same. He should get his team to be supportive and encouraging, censure players who do not fit into the culture. Batting orders need not be changed unless necessary.
He gives the example of how Middlesex (his team) was playing against Surrey and after two days of rain they came out to play and got Surrey out for 40. Seeing the conditions they decided not to bat and played just one ball, declared, and put Surrey in again, got them out for 87 all out. By this time the pitch had eased out a bit and they scored 137 for 1. Hell of a gamble but makes immense sense.
Before he gets on the field the captain has to think ahead - get the players on the field together, set the right tone, set the right field,the right player in the right position, make eye contact. He has to be exact and exacting in his demands. He has to be aware of which bowler may do better from which end keeping the wind, the boundary, the type of bowler in mind. A captain should also encourage others to think from a tactical point of view, should encourage and motivate the others. He should clearly avoid favoritism and give everyone a fair chance.
While placing the field the captain should play on the batsman's mind - like leaving gaps to make the batsman commit mistakes. Typical fields are 5-4 (defensive), 6-3 (offensive) and 7-2 (in control fully). For a 7-2 field the bowler should have great skill -like Lillee who he mentions. The captain must know the range of the bowler (in fact of all players).
One of the best stories he tells is that of a lion keeper he meets who has had a 100% success rate and when asked how he manages to train lions so well he says - no two lions are alike. Brearley says its the same with people - no two people are alike and he must know how to handle each one differently and know what they respond to. He should have a general strategy, be flexible in approach as conditions change. He must constantly play on the batsman's mind and put pressure on them and serve up what they would least like to face. Most players do not know their strengths and weakness, what they are capable of. He should know if their strengths are strengths or weaknesses, if they like things a certain way. He can be innovative with fielding positions depending on conditions and batsmen. He should take advantage of the batsman's inner turmoils. Mostly, a captain should never give up. Also, trust your intuition.
Brearely is ruthless - he believes in bowling bouncers to get wickets as a psychological ploy. He says every player has their own sense of aggression - some need to be needled. For example Botham needed a stick and Willis needed a carrot and constant encouragement. He encourages the game to be played in the right spirit without cheating, sledging and so on.
While on averages he says we are all aware that some runs count more than others and averages do not tell the whole story. The classic dilemma of individual or team - he says one must play for the team success which is a product of individual success. He says groups tend to take a particular characteristic and the attitude of the group can affect the individual. It is the captain who influences his team and its character, and must nudge it in the right direction, overseeing the actions and behaviors. He should be clear, compassionate and insist on discipline. He should display courage and be ready for the impossible. He cites the case of a match when Marsh was captain and the opponent had only 78 to get and he told his team they will put up a good show. Lillee however did not buy that and said they are going to win and came back and bowled them out for 61 - a side that included Vivian Richards.
In team meetings he said its best to listen more. One can stir up the team with a ritual that is the team's own. Team meetings certainly helped he says as someone or the other brings some important insights. The captain must make everyone feel like they belong. He must also make it clear that the focus is on preparation and not the outcome. He must facilitate and encourage talks about the art and craft which helps them feel better. He must find the balance between discipline and creativity.
While on Stars and Others he says one must accept individual differences. However he says the captain can insist on punctuality, uniform, so the team looks organised. He says it might help to ask the team what they wanted from him. Definitely do not miss a chance to praise players when they do well. Also see who takes how to praise and give accordingly.
As captain he must also be aware that allotting rooms is important so players are comfortable and in a growing environment and not rub off on each other badly. He should set high standards and expect it. He has to earn respect by example and allow talent to flower. He must also understand that no one is perfect and the aim is to improve playing ability, character, mental make up. He has to be tough yet considerate, strict and indulgent, instill the will to win. He should ram home the advantage and cling desperately when losing it. He should be available to receive the emotional demands and pressures from those he is responsible for.
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Such then is how a captain should be and its an art that can be refined by learning and practicing like all other skills. Keeping notes, having discussions etc will certainly go a long way in the making of a successful captain.
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