5 worst captaincy moves in modern day cricket
Cricket is one of the very few games where a captain has such a big say in the outcome; one mistake, and it could all bust. Here is a compilation of 5 such incidents when the teams were let down by some muddled thinking from the captain and the think-tank. Note: The list is in no particular order
#5 Adam Gilchrist - Declaration v England, Headingley, 2001
The situation is probably less consequential here as compared to the other four entries in the list, as Australia were already 3-0 up in the 2001 Ashes series when the stand-in captain Adam Gilchirst opted for a brave declaration on the fourth day of the 4th Test at Headingly, Leeds.
The visitors gave England a target of 315 with a possible 20 overs left on Day 4 and a full Day 5 to play. With rain playing hide and seek, the declaration showed the typical Aussie intent: push for a win at all cost. However, only 3 overs were possible in the remainder of the day, courtesy bad light followed by heavy rain.
England, riding on Mark Butcher’s unbeaten 173 at a healthy strike-rate and into the final session, ended up victorious with 6 wickets in hand as Jason Gillespie and Brett Lee were taken for more than 4 runs an over.
The outcome made one wonder the need for the declaration with the series already in the bag. Butcher was named as the man-of-the-match.