M Nicholas: England selectors miss chance to find new flavour (4 May 1998)

4 May 1998

England selectors miss chance to find new flavour

By Mark Nicholas

SO NOW we know for sure that it is Alec Stewart or Nasser Hussain who will be appointed to captain England: no outsider will be invited to the party. This is a chance missed.

English cricket does not give the country cause for optimism and whatever the merit of these two men - the only two who were seriously discussed by the selectors - there will be the flavour of an old stew at tomorrow's press conference. In fairness, one cannot help but enjoy Stewart's haughty style or admire Hussain's defiance but equally one cannot help the craving for a fresh face, a character untouched by the persistent ordinariness, on and off the field, of the England cricket team.

Perhaps the value of leadership is a forgotten thing. Perhaps it is mocked for its amateur tradition and frowned upon for the way it can compromise team selection. Perhaps the role of managers and coaches in the domestic game have diluted the standing of the captain. Perhaps the years of Graham Gooch's deadpan nature and Michael Atherton's inflexibility have led the game to forget what bright eyes and sharp, imaginative minds can bring to a team. We have all been conned. The blind devotion to the work ethic first preached at the turn of the decade and the lack of generosity and spirit that the grindstone has produced have a lot to answer for.

Once Gower and Lamb and Botham had gone, no one was left to speak out for freedom or, for that matter, for the daring of lawlessness, so the ranks closed, the insularity began and the play reflected the introspection.

They say that Australia choose their best team and from them comes the captain. This is not so, otherwise Mark Taylor would not have toured England last summer. The fact is that Australia have an exceptional leader and the selectors were prepared to accommodate him. England will not compromise because they are not so lucky with their personnel but also because they do not dare. It is as if the whole cricket business has become too serious for its own good.

Mind you, the captaincy of England is as tough as it gets, what with the level of public expectation, the extent of media intrusion and the lack of match-winning cricketers to turn to in times of stress. If one doesn't agree with the selectors, it is easy to understand the narrow reasoning behind their choice.

Essentially, there are four attributes to consider. In no particular order, they are, first, tactical awareness, the on-field nous to ensure that England do not miss a trick. Surprisingly often in recent years, England have been in a position to win and have not closed the deal.

Second is man management, which has many parts but which most immediately is the ability to direct the various egos and inconsistencies which seem to plague England teams.

Third is an understanding of public relations and a willingness to embrace the press. Taylor is an expert, Brian Lara is very aware and very adaptable, Hansie Cronje is closely advised and sincere in his approach. It is important for the new captain to convince his team that they are performing on behalf of the whole country and that their role as representatives is especially important in the face of the intensity of modern communications.

The fourth is to be respected as a cricketer. You really would have to have the Midas touch if you were not up to it. Remember that Mike Brearley had Botham, the godsend of English cricket, in his pomp, and their liaison diverted attention from Brearley's self-confessed shortcomings as a batsman.

This, though, is not an age when England are flush with world-class cricketers. Many chosen, though talented - Mark Butcher and Nick Knight, for example - are much of a muchness so there is a place for experiment in the choice of a leader if his play is close to their level.

Whoever is chosen will set the tone of the team and the style of their play. That in itself is an enormous responsibility and the one which will be most scrutinised. Every England captain since Brearley has made his own statement at one stage or another and has won matches through its reflection. Bob Willis's honesty and aggression; David Gower's diplomacy and consistent, well-structured thinking; Mike Gatting's unbridled enthusiasm and disbelief at anyone else's lack of it; Graham Gooch's relentless pursuit of commitment and improvement; Mike Atherton's refusal to be beaten into submission by friend or foe. These attributes kept them in the job, their flaws and the diminishing quality of their teams had them removed.

The axe, or the resignation papers, confront every captain. It is not a disgrace, it is a fact which highlights the extreme demands of the most difficult role in British sport.

The crime is to play the captaincy card too close to the chest when actually the answer may be out there somewhere untried and frustrated. The clever money and various Sunday 'exclusives' are with Alec Stewart and he is not one to miss the point. He will have much to do with gloves and bat but it is true leadership that he can make his strongest statement yet.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)