The best Aussie captain of the modern era?

[Mythical Creature]

I reckon Tubby Taylor would get my vote. Mind you, I can only vaguely recall the end of Borders years.

[Corona Man]

I've not voted yet, as I can't split I Chappell & M Taylor.....

I am older enough to remember him (I Chappell) playing, and captaining the team, although I was very young. To be honest I can only judge him on what he & others have said about his time as captain. He had a certain way of motivating his team/s in that era. He also had at his disposal some damn fine players.

I am not a fan of the way Taylor played, nor of his persona, but his captaincy was top shelf. Again he had some fine players at his disposal, Mc Grath, Gillespie, B Lee & Warne... with that attack you are going to get the 20 wickets to win a game more time than not.

Got me thinking.... does the captain make the team.... or does the team make the captain?

For me it's a combination of both....

[bennymacca]

I think this is a somewhat fruitless exercise, as the fortunes of the captain are inextricably linked to their performances as a cricketer, and also the calibre of their teammates.

Taylor and Steve Waugh might have been great captains, but lets be honest, they didn't have to be - shit, things are going downhill, better put warne and one end and mcgrath at the other, problem solved. Having a full batting lineup of guys averaging mid 40s and above also helps.

I think how a captain handles themselves in the worst of times shows how good a leader they are, and I respect clarke immensely for the way he handled the Phil Hughes tragedy. Anyone trying to pot shot him now just reeks of sour grapes.

It was slightly before my time, but it seems Border was also one that through his sheer iron will managed to drag australian cricket off the canvass and into a better era - but once again he is also defined by the players around him, and If you interchanged Waugh and Border you would probably say the opposite things about them, if that makes sense.

Its a bit like comparing batsmen or bowlers across eras - it is just so hard to do

[shoe boy]

AB for me taking over sooky lar lar Hughes.

AB 156 tests with average of 50.56 and Captain of 93 consecutive games in an era when the Windies put everyone to the sword still rate AB the finest cricketer they (GARNER/MARSHELL/HOLDING) played against.

[Lightning McQueen]

I've not voted yet, as I can't split I Chappell & M Taylor.....

I am older enough to remember him (I Chappell) playing, and captaining the team, although I was very young. To be honest I can only judge him on what he & others have said about his time as captain. He had a certain way of motivating his team/s in that era. He also had at his disposal some damn fine players.

I am not a fan of the way Taylor played, nor of his persona, but his captaincy was top shelf. Again he had some fine players at his disposal, Mc Grath, Gillespie, B Lee & Warne... with that attack you are going to get the 20 wickets to win a game more time than not.

Got me thinking.... does the captain make the team.... or does the team make the captain?

For me it's a combination of both....

Fair call mate.

[Lightning McQueen]

I think this is a somewhat fruitless exercise, as the fortunes of the captain are inextricably linked to their performances as a cricketer, and also the calibre of their teammates.

Taylor and Steve Waugh might have been great captains, but lets be honest, they didn't have to be - shit, things are going downhill, better put warne and one end and mcgrath at the other, problem solved. Having a full batting lineup of guys averaging mid 40s and above also helps.

I think how a captain handles themselves in the worst of times shows how good a leader they are, and I respect clarke immensely for the way he handled the Phil Hughes tragedy. Anyone trying to pot shot him now just reeks of sour grapes.

It was slightly before my time, but it seems Border was also one that through his sheer iron will managed to drag australian cricket off the canvass and into a better era - but once again he is also defined by the players around him, and If you interchanged Waugh and Border you would probably say the opposite things about them, if that makes sense.

Its a bit like comparing batsmen or bowlers across eras - it is just so hard to do

A good captain extracts excellence from all of his players, I've been involved in at least 10 premierships but probably only once we had the best side in the comp.

[Lightning McQueen]

AB for me taking over sooky lar lar Hughes.

AB 156 tests with average of 50.56 and Captain of 93 consecutive games in an era when the Windies put everyone to the sword still rate AB the finest cricketer they (GARNER/MARSHELL/HOLDING) played against.

Definitely the toughest!

[bennymacca]

I think this is a somewhat fruitless exercise, as the fortunes of the captain are inextricably linked to their performances as a cricketer, and also the calibre of their teammates.

Taylor and Steve Waugh might have been great captains, but lets be honest, they didn't have to be - shit, things are going downhill, better put warne and one end and mcgrath at the other, problem solved. Having a full batting lineup of guys averaging mid 40s and above also helps.

I think how a captain handles themselves in the worst of times shows how good a leader they are, and I respect clarke immensely for the way he handled the Phil Hughes tragedy. Anyone trying to pot shot him now just reeks of sour grapes.

It was slightly before my time, but it seems Border was also one that through his sheer iron will managed to drag australian cricket off the canvass and into a better era - but once again he is also defined by the players around him, and If you interchanged Waugh and Border you would probably say the opposite things about them, if that makes sense.

Its a bit like comparing batsmen or bowlers across eras - it is just so hard to do

A good captain extracts excellence from all of his players, I've been involved in at least 10 premierships but probably only once we had the best side in the comp.

That's true, but if you have basically the best Australian team ever on the park your job is certainly easier

[Lightning McQueen]

Was it because they picked the best 11 players going around at that time too?

[FlyingHigh]

I've not voted yet, as I can't split I Chappell & M Taylor.....

I am older enough to remember him (I Chappell) playing, and captaining the team, although I was very young. To be honest I can only judge him on what he & others have said about his time as captain. He had a certain way of motivating his team/s in that era. He also had at his disposal some damn fine players.

I am not a fan of the way Taylor played, nor of his persona, but his captaincy was top shelf. Again he had some fine players at his disposal, Mc Grath, Gillespie, B Lee & Warne... with that attack you are going to get the 20 wickets to win a game more time than not.

Got me thinking.... does the captain make the team.... or does the team make the captain?

For me it's a combination of both....

Brett Lee never played under Taylor, McGrath was only young when he took over, Gillespie came in as a youngster during Taylor's captaincy. He had an ailing McDermott and some useful bowlers like Reiffel
He did have the advantage of Warne's flipper that Waugh didn't but Warne was far from a developed bowler (according to Warne himself) when Taylor took over. It was Taylor before he was captain and Matthews who helped Warne through his uncertainty.
Waugh had a superior and more mature bowling attack.
I rate Taylor and Clarke's captaincy superior to Waugh and Ponting as they knew how to handle their spinners better, whereas Waugh and Ponting gave the impression, if it wasn't for Warne, they would have preferred four quicks.

[whufc]

I think this is a somewhat fruitless exercise, as the fortunes of the captain are inextricably linked to their performances as a cricketer, and also the calibre of their teammates.

Taylor and Steve Waugh might have been great captains, but lets be honest, they didn't have to be - shit, things are going downhill, better put warne and one end and mcgrath at the other, problem solved. Having a full batting lineup of guys averaging mid 40s and above also helps.

I think how a captain handles themselves in the worst of times shows how good a leader they are, and I respect clarke immensely for the way he handled the Phil Hughes tragedy. Anyone trying to pot shot him now just reeks of sour grapes.

It was slightly before my time, but it seems Border was also one that through his sheer iron will managed to drag australian cricket off the canvass and into a better era - but once again he is also defined by the players around him, and If you interchanged Waugh and Border you would probably say the opposite things about them, if that makes sense.

Its a bit like comparing batsmen or bowlers across eras - it is just so hard to do

I agree with Clarke handling things well then..........................................BUT

Realistically and not trying to sound to harsh but who would have handled that bad, every other person in Australia at that time would have done the same things.

I have a lot of respect for Clarke but just because you do one amazing deed doesn't automatically forget the 20 'shit' things you have done.

It reminds me a tad of an interview i saw with Rudi Giuliani (NY Mayor September 11) who spoke about how he was a hated figure but the disaster of September 11 made him looking amazing in the public eye when in fact he had more professional support and help around him then most of the victims etc etc, so actual fact he had an easier task as he was told where, when, what etc for everything he did.

I probably haven't explained myself very well.

[westozfalcon]

For me it was down to Ian Chappell and Mark Taylor but I plumped for Taylor because he captained over a longer period. I reckon Chappell quit the job too soon.

[Rik E Boy]

For me it was down to Ian Chappell and Mark Taylor but I plumped for Taylor because he captained over a longer period. I reckon Chappell quit the job too soon.

That was because Chappell didn't want to get the Bill Lawry treatment. Chappell wins hands down as the best captain for mine.

regards,

REB

[Dogwatcher]

For me it was down to Ian Chappell and Mark Taylor but I plumped for Taylor because he captained over a longer period. I reckon Chappell quit the job too soon.

That was because Chappell didn't want to get the Bill Lawry treatment. Chappell wins hands down as the best captain for mine.

regards,

REB

"The bastards won't do that to me." - I. Chappell

[FlyingHigh]

Chappell also believed that about 5 years was right for a captain, and somehow it seems to work out about right - our last four captains have been there for roughly that long.
Puts into context how great an effort Border's was.

[bennymacca]

Chappell also believed that about 5 years was right for a captain, and somehow it seems to work out about right - our last four captains have been there for roughly that long.
Puts into context how great an effort Border's was.

Assuming smith plays into his mid 30s he may well buck that trend though, but i guess thats more a reflection of the fact that we dont have a seasoned 30 year old ready to step up like you otherwise would

[JK]

Chappell also believed that about 5 years was right for a captain, and somehow it seems to work out about right - our last four captains have been there for roughly that long.
Puts into context how great an effort Border's was.

Assuming smith plays into his mid 30s he may well buck that trend though, but i guess thats more a reflection of the fact that we dont have a seasoned 30 year old ready to step up like you otherwise would

Was a good debate on SEN this morning about who should become our new VC .. Not a lot of great options at the moment. Warner seemed to fit the bill best in terms of his standing in the team, but then of course there's the outspoken aspect which would have to come into calculations. Outside of he and Smith there's not really any established batsman alternative, the keeper position isn't locked in, and there's usually a reluctance to have a bowler in a leadership position.

[Q.]

I like Lyon as VC.

[whufc]

I like Lyon as VC.

Agree he is the best man for the position at the moment.

The only argument though is should your VC be seen as your next captain, the successor if you like, if that's the case Lyon probably will never be the next captain.

[FlyingHigh]

Yeah, Lyon is probably the best of a thin field.
Him, Warner and Johnson are probably the only other players guaranteed a spot.