Ian Chappell questions World XI captain's credentials
MELBOURNE, Sunday - Ian Chappell, the former Australian captain, has
questioned the choice of Graeme Smith as captain of the World XI for the
one-off Test against Australia at Sydney.
Smith has been named captain for the six-day Test, which starts on
October 14, but Chappell wasn't convinced about his leadership skills,
especially his ability to get the best out of the spinners.
"To beat Australia the opposing captain has to be prepared to attack
and use his initiative, as Michael Vaughan so expertly displayed in the
recent Ashes series, and on what I have seen so far, this is beyond
Smith," Chappell wrote in a column which appeared in Sunday Mid Day, a
Mumbai-based tabloid.
"What makes Smith a terrific opening batsman is also what holds his
captaincy back. He has tunnel vision when he bats and is able to
concentrate purely on what he does well. However, he employs this same
narrow vision to his captaincy and appears to lack imagination.
"Traditionally South African captains lack understanding when it
comes to the value of spin bowlers. They tend to rely heavily on fast
and seam bowlers especially when the match is tight.
At the SCG spin bowling could play a big part in deciding the Super
Series Test and the World XI have a destructive pair in Muttiah
Muralitharan and Vettori. However, both need to be employed as attacking
weapons against Australia, not just as run-stoppers."
Chappell confessed that he was particularly impressed by the manner
in which Stephen Fleming had used Vettori, especially against Australia.
"There are currently few leaders who understand the value of
attacking with spinners against a strong batting line-up, and New
Zealand's Fleming is one such skipper.
Under Fleming, Vettori has had great success against a dominant
Australian batting line-up. Fleming is even better qualified in this
aspect of captaincy than England's successful skipper, as Vaughan's only
experience so far revolves around using Ashley Giles in a mainly
defensive role."
Chappell scoffed at the suggestion that neither Vaughan nor Fleming
merited a place in the XI, arguing that a strong captain will add far
more value to a team already brimming with talent.
"Picking a team is about selecting the right combination, not just
gathering the best players. Without the right captain the World XI is
vulnerable against an Australian side that will be hell-bent on revenge
after losing the Ashes.
"A bunch of talented individuals not representing their country are
going to be hard pushed to beat a skilful team playing under their own
nation's colours. Unless the conglomerate has a strong leader who
instills a sense of unity and a desperation to win, the team
representing their country is always favoured.
Chappell even suggested that it was far more vital to get the right
leader than to ensure that the two best openers went out to face the new
ball against Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee.
"The World XI would have been a stronger side with Vaughan or Fleming
opening in place of Smith. There is little difference in actual batting
skill, especially when you consider Vaughan's highly successful last
tour of Australia as an opener.
I'll bet the Australians, smarting after their defeat in England, are
quietly relieved they won't have to face a talented bowling line-up
under the wily direction of either Fleming or Vaughan." (Cricinfo) |