Ian Chappell reckons Joe Root to be an excellent batter but a poor captain.
The Ashes 2021: Former Australian captain Ian Chappell reckons England skipper Joe Root as a “poor captain”, though he heaped praises on the English skipper’s batting abilities. He further labelled Australia’s new Test skipper Pat Cummis as an inspirational leader.
Cummins replaced former captain Tim Paine days ahead of the start of Men’s Ashes 2021-22. Paine stepped down from his captaincy after his sexting scandal dating back in 2017 came in front of the media.
“Cummins acquired the appropriate nickname Postman Pat before he was appointed captain. He is accorded this handle because he regularly delivers, often providing Australia with a wicket when it’s needed. There is a lot to like about Cummins’ appointment, and he certainly delivered in his first captaincy Test with a five-wicket innings haul at the Gabba,” Chappell wrote in his column for ESPNcricinfo.
Chappell said that Cummins is the most inspirational leader of the Australian side.
“He is also by far the most inspirational player in the Australia side, and even when he was replaced as captain this week, the team still played hard with thoughts of his reputation in mind.”
The Aussie skipper scalped his maiden five-wicket haul after getting elevated to the Test captaincy in the Gaba to thrash his English counterparts in the opening match of the Ashes 2021-22.
Chappell also reckoned that Cummins will eventually become a really strong leader by learning from his past mistakes as he gets in the groove of his captaincy stint.
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Root is an ordinary and unlucky captain: Ian Chappell
Further talking about the England captain Joe Root, Chappell asserted that it wouldn’t be unfair to call Root an ordinary and unlucky captain.
“Root is an excellent batter but a poor captain. It would not be unfair to describe him as an ordinary and unlucky captain. Rarely do you find a long-term captain who is lacking in imagination but is also lucky.
“A fortunate captain is usually lucky because the players believe he is some kind of miracle-worker and things tend to work out because of the team’s belief,” he added.
Chappell indicated a few recent instances where Root himself proved why he is not an inspirational leader.
“He is not an inspirational captain and this is indicated by the number of times his team work their way into a decent position but can’t finish the job. This happened again when, where after conceding 425 in Brisbane, England repeated their mistakes in Adelaide to leak 473 for the loss of nine.”