Tactician Clarke needs to be ‘firm and formal’ with Oz players: Warne
April 1st, 2011 - 12:48 pm ICT by ANIMelbourne, Apr 1 (ANI): Former bowling legend Shane Warne has said that new Australia skipper Michael Clarke is a very good tactician, but will need to be more firm in terms of player management.
Clarke became Australia’s 43rd Test captain after Ricky Ponting resigned to concentrate more on his batting, after a disastrous World Cup campaign.
Warne, who took 708 Test wickets, said Clarke, a close friend, was the right man for the job but would need to further develop some of his skills.
“It’s a special thing to be captain of Australia, but with that prestige, comes a lot of responsibility, on and off the field,” he wrote in the Daily Telegraph.
“The appointment came as a surprise to Michael, which says to me he was not chasing the job. Even though he was being groomed for it, he was focused on making runs and supporting Ricky Ponting,” Warne wrote.
“Michael is a very good tactician, as we have seen in his one-day and Twenty20 appearances as skipper. His communication skills remind me of a young Mark Taylor, who was the best captain I played under.
“He works well with the bowlers and we don’t see him running up to them after every ball or looking like a cop directing traffic. Some captains like that as it’s a power trip. His strategies are spot-on and his style aggressive,” Warne wrote.
The spin legend further said that the Australian team is in transition and it’s important to put players under pressure - “to risk losing to win, not be happy not to lose and draw.”
“That way the players learn how to win. You must be proactive and set the ground rules from day one. As a leader of men, Michael can improve. The way he conducts himself is laid-back and fun by nature, but as skipper he will need to be more formal and firm,” he wrote.
“Sure, keep the fun aspect, but be more formal in dealing with the press, sponsors, the board — the corporate part of the job. But keep being Michael Clarke. I believe he has respect as a player, now it’s time to earn that as a leader, firstly from the extended Australian cricket family and then the public,” Warne added. (ANI)
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- Gatting urges Ponting to walk away from Oz captaincy to prolong Test career - Dec 10, 2010
- Oz Test legend Walters wants Ponting axed as skipper after World Cup - Mar 18, 2011
- Relationship with Ponting won't be strained: Clarke - Feb 24, 2012
- Lawson says time for Ponting to hand over captaincy to Clarke to focus on batting - Oct 15, 2010
- Chappell backs Clarke to excel as Oz skipper - Dec 20, 2010
- Chappell doesn't want Ponting in dressing room - Jan 03, 2011
- Australia benefiting from Ponting's presence: Hussey - Aug 15, 2011
- New Oz captain Clarke keen to rely on Ponting's experience - Apr 09, 2011
Tags: bowlers, communication skills, daily telegraph, directing traffic, laid back, leader of men, mark taylor, michael clarke, player management, ponting, power trip, prestige, ricky, right man, shane warne, skipper, tactician, test wickets, twenty20, world cup campaign