ICC World Cup 2015: 4 team managements that haven't played it smart

In every sport, the outcome of a game is decided based on the performance of the players on the field. However, one cannot overlook the role played by the backroom staff as they are the brains behind the players on the field. In cricket, though the captain has a major say in the proceedings on the field, very often he acts on the strategies devised by the backroom staff and the coaching staff which together comprise the team management.Team India is a perfect example of how a good backroom staff can change a team’s fortunes. The Men in Blue looked a hapless lot after the Test series against England last year. Reacting to their performance in the Test series, the BCCI appointed Ravi Shastri as the Team Director. They also appointed Sanjay Bangar as the assistant coach, Bharat Arun as the bowling coach and R Sridhar as the fielding coach.MS Dhoni’s men haven't looked back ever since as they managed to beat England in the subsequent ODI series and won the next couple of ODI series’ at home. Though they had a difficult tour of Australia, they have bounced back in style and emerged as one of the best teams at the ongoing World Cup.While India have a very good team management, there are some other teams that need to improve on this aspect. Let’s take a look at four such teams:

#4 South Africa

The inclusion of South Africa on this list may be surprising, but the truth is that they indeed need to get smarter. In spite of being pre-tournament favourites before every ICC tournament, the Proteas end up falling short on every occasion. While experts put this down to the temperament of the players, the backroom staff too needs to take a fair share of the blame.

For all of AB de Villiers’ brilliance with the bat, he sometimes bats too down the order for South Africa’s liking. Though number five is his preferred position, it would do the Proteas a world of good if their captain batted regularly at number four. Given his adaptability, the wide array of shots in his repertoire and his ability to control the proceedings, he would be a perfect fit at number four. 

While there is no question that Quinton de Kock is a top notch player, the South African wicket-keeper has been struggling for runs in this World Cup. South Africa, however, have persisted with the youngster. They can have de Villiers don the keeper’s gloves and accommodate an extra bowling all-rounder like Vernon Philander as they bat very deep.

Moreover, de Villiers being the athlete he is, would do a good job with the gloves. Another issue that the Proteas need to address is their inability to chase. Twice they have chased in this tournament and on both occasions, they have ended up losing. Someone needs to make them believe that with all their batting might, they can chase down targets.