5 cricketers who can go on to become great captains

To measure a captain by his statistical records is to do him no justice. The results may not be fruitful for a while, but his true contribution lies in his influence on the quality of cricket being played. To inspire an army of eleven from the abyss of negativity and instill belief in them at the toughest of times are no easy tasks, which is why a leader is not just another cricketer.He is the one every individual looks up to for motivation; he is the one who holds the power to salvage games with shrewd strategies and tactical boldness even when his men aren’t producing the goods. He leads from the front, setting an example and encourages his players to wring their best every time.A captain must demand respect for his man-management principles to render results. Every player needs to be treated differently and it takes only a revered figure to make one heed his advice. To remain sincere and transparent, to prioritize the team’s cause over his own, to back talent and infuse self-confidence, to take the blame during failures – the responsibility can get quite demanding.Leading a team of international players is an arduous job indeed, as is listing five cricketers who can go on to become distinguished skippers in future. The author does take a feeble attempt anyway.

#1 Joe Root

That Joe Root will one day rise to the rank of England skipper was taken as understood since he completed his debut year in international cricket. As a composed right-hander, he is not alien to comparisons with former England great Michael Vaughan, and it is his absolute unwillingness to throw away his wicket that sets Root apart from his peers in the England dressing room.

Root belongs to the breed of players who inspire others. By 2013, the then 22-year-old was already being considered as a leadership option as he led the England Lions against the New Zealanders in a four-day warm up match. He scored 179 runs in that match.

At 30, Alastair Cook does have a few more years to go, but should the need arise, it is almost inconceivable that England will turn to anyone else with Root available. As vice-captain, he continues to be Cook’s understudy, thus molding the leadership potential the selectors had seen in him.

Permanent responsibility may affect his batting initially, but with Root’s maturity, there should hardly be anything to be concerned about.