7 tactical blunders by great captains in the history of cricket
To err is human. And in spite of the fact that successful cricket captains are celebrated across the world as something more, they too, at the end of the day, are mortals, completely capable of committing mistakes.That their blunders are often forgotten in the face of their myriad achievements is a welcome thing, for it takes only one single lapse of judgment to create a window of opportunity for the opponent to turn the tables.Here we take a look at seven such instances that made the erring skipper pay a hefty price for his moment of imprudence.
#1 Steve Waugh - An unforeseen blunder
Cricket is a funny game. Steve Waugh, of all people, must know that. For what happened in that fateful Kolkata Test in 2001 is now a piece of history, a figment of lore.
Anyone in his right mind would send a team that is 0-1 down in the series and has conceded a first innings lead of 274, to follow-on. And Steve Waugh had done exactly that. Who would have known that two right-handers would defy the most potent bowling attack in the third innings of the match and go on to carve their names as legends of the game – all while scripting a dramatic comeback in the match as well as the series?
As VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid turned architects for a massive second innings total, they not only destroyed the Australians statistically but also psychologically. Their shock was amply evident when Harbhajan Singh ran through their attack soon after with figures of 6/73 in 30.3 overs. Having leveled the series here, India went on to seal it with a two-wicket victory at Chennai in the third Test.