Cricket fans tend to take more notice of who is or isn’t the coach rather than focusing on the important matter of the appointed captain. Pat Cummins and his charges take the wickets, make the runs and handle the chances. It’s them, not the coach who will win or lose the upcoming series in Pakistan. 

It’s all in the head

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Anybody who thinks international players need coaching and molly-coddling 24 hours, seven days a week is confused. International techniques don’t disintegrate. Players might encounter a problem along the way but what goes wrong is generally in the head. A decent natter with a preferred senior player in the team usually sets the cricketer on the right path.

Why are fellow players the best international coaches? For starters they are playing against the same players. They are also out in the middle in the heat of battle and understand the trying consequences. They also see their fellow competitors regularly and will quickly notice any change in technique or mental approach. 

It’s much more important to have well-credentialed selectors choosing the right squad than it is to have the public ranting about coaches.

The first mistake in this exercise was to use the title head coach. Anybody looking after a team should have the word ‘manager’ in his title. If the captain, with the help of a few trusted aides, runs the cricket side of the game and the management concentrates on off-field matters, then the team will be very competitive. 

An international coach should be something the Australian team travels in on a tour of England. 

Cummins is a smart cricketer. He is a good captain because he understands bowling, approaches the game with a commonsense attitude and has tough competitors around him. There’s no doubt Cummins will experience tougher days than what he encountered against England. He will also have to fight through the occasional frustration—that’s the life of a captain. Nevertheless Cummins will establish his reputation as a good captain for the simple reason that he’s a solid leader. His captaincy will be recognised because of his own efforts. 

On the other side of the world England, under the temporary stewardship of former skipper Andrew Strauss, embarked on a monumental sacking spree. In addition to the three members of the hierarchy who bit the dust, Strauss’ contingent did away with eight players who toured Australia and appointed an interim coach in the form of Paul Collingwood. There were some good moves among those made by the Strauss group. The dropping of ageing stars Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad took courage and signalled a new direction for the team.

The retention of an inconsistent Ollie Pope displayed faith in a talented but disoriented player. 

The elevation of a credentialed gloveman in Ben Foakes was a welcome trend. However, the one move that could have made a real difference—a change of leadership—was avoided. There’s no doubt that England with good, strong leadership could be a much improved side on it’s Australian showing.

England need a strong leader

Joe Root deserves the title ‘prominent batsman’ but the team will not achieve its potential under his stewardship. Root is not a good leader—never has been. Who could England nominate as captain? That is a major problem. Apart from Ben Stokes there’s not another name in the squad that stands out as a potential skipper. Nevertheless, England badly need to unearth a strong leader and to do it quickly. If they don’t have a skipper instilling direction into the Test team they will continue to struggle against the major cricket nations.