Opinion | Ian Chappell >> The magic of Shane Richie Benaud said Keith Miller was the best captain Australia never had. The same can be said about Warne May 4, 2008 I first met Everton Valentine on the 1973 tour of the Caribbean and he now lives in Notting Hill Gate, London. We continue to communicate on cricket matters in general and the West Indies in particular 'If a team under Warne pulls off a stunning victory or two, the players start to believe that it wasn't a miracle, just an everyday occurrence' © Getty Images Dear Everton Well, mate, you never cease to amaze. After telling me Twenty20 was "like drinking punch without the rum", I get an email from Hyderabad saying you've flown there to watch an IPL game. Still, I can't fault your reasoning; a desire to see if all this talk about Shane Warne's captaincy was true. I guess I no longer have to try and convince you he would've been a great Australian captain. He makes the game exciting for his team-mates, which is part of the secret to successful captaincy. Keep them involved in an absorbing contest and the really competitive players will regularly produce their best. Also, his captaincy creed, "We can win from any position," is like the common cold - it's contagious. If a team under Warne pulls off a stunning victory or two, the players start to believe that it wasn't a miracle, just an everyday occurrence. Everton, what you witnessed in Hyderabad, where Warne captained like a chess master and conjured up a remarkable last-gasp victory against the Deccan Chargers, is exactly what I saw in 1996 when I phoned Richie Benaud in England. I'd just seen Warne captain Victoria in a Super Eights tournament played in northern Australia during the winter. His captaincy was aggressive and there was a vibrancy to his leadership that inspired the players around him to perform at their best. I told Benaud, "I've just seen a brilliant natural leader. We could have another aggressive legspinning captain of Australia." Even from 16,000 kilometres away you could hear the excitement in Benaud's voice. My prediction had rekindled memories of his own exploits as an aggressive Australian captain who was prepared to take risks. What you said about Warne, "that he takes his gambling instincts on to the field" was one of the things that impressed me about his captaincy in 1996. Everton, what you and the Indian public are now seeing is what the people of Hampshire have been raving about for a few seasons: how as captain, Warne makes the game interesting for everybody to watch. What a pity we didn't see more of it in Australia. Just 11 one-day internationals as captain in the late 1990s and Australia won ten of those matches. No wonder Steve Waugh was in a hurry to return from injury to reclaim the job; the team responded brilliantly to Warne's leadership and there was a mystical quality about what might unfold that had the public constantly on the edge of their seats. He also captained Victoria a few times but that would have been wasted on their fans; they've been subjected to so much pedestrian leadership over the years, they've probably forgotten what good captaincy looks like. Yes, Everton, I know, there's an exception to every rule. My grandfather, and former Australia captain Vic Richardson advised me, "If you ever captain Australia, don't do it like a Victorian." Anyway, what's happened to the old devil-may-care Everton now you've retired? You're becoming conservative in your old age, agreeing with the "do gooders" (as you once described them), that it was probably just as well Warne didn't captain Australia because he would've embarrassed the country with his off-field antics.     What the Indian public are now seeing is what the people of Hampshire have been raving about for a few seasons: how as captain, Warne makes the game interesting for everybody to watch. What a pity we didn't see more of it in Australia   Remember what you said, Everton, "Larrikins make good captains because they are risk-takers." And anyway, I told you if he'd been appointed captain following Mark Taylor's retirement, I doubt he would have got into so much hot water that it ensured he would never captain Australia again. He's made some stupid mistakes but he's not naive. I think it was Eric Idle, the comic from Monty Python, who said of the male of the species: "Man has two major organs, brain and penis, but only blood enough to run one at a time." That probably best summed up Warnie. Anyway, we agree on one thing, Everton. Warne has one of the most vibrant cricket brains in the business and there can be no disputing he's a very good captain. Benaud often says the great allrounder Keith Miller was the best skipper he's seen never to captain Australia. I'd say the same about Warne in regard to Test cricket. Hey, mate, you've really succumbed to the Warne magic. You followed him to Jaipur to watch him out-manoeuvre his old foe Sourav Ganguly and make it four wins in a row against the Knight Riders, and now you're planning a trip to Las Vegas to watch him play in a poker tournament. If you want some spending money for Vegas, have a little wager on the Royals winning the IPL. There's one thing for sure about taking a punt on Warnie. He always gives you a good run for your money. © Cricinfo

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Posted by Bodie on May 07 2008, 00:20 AM GMT

Shane Warne is was always will be a genius. Had he been captain he would not have gotten into the trouble that he did, he had more sense than that. Shane is to bowling as Bradman was to batting. Look long and hard you will NEVER see the likes of him again. If he had been captain he would still be playing. On ya Warnie!!!

Posted by rocky on May 06 2008, 23:16 PM GMT

Warne's captaincy in the 6-7 matches of IPL is really exceptional,but that in no way can undermine the yrs of leadership of Waugh. Waugh did change the way test cricket was being played, Of course he had built a fabulous team but his man management skills were fantastic. Being the coach and the captain,a retired stalwart like warne can surely lead the minnows with unquestionable authority.they have nothing to lose. Would the aussie world class players have followed his plans??

Posted by CJC1 on May 06 2008, 15:18 PM GMT

Players of Warne's rare natural ability rarely made good let alone great captains. Lara, Tendulkar, Wasim Akram, Viv Richards, to name a few recent notables who were genius players, but good captains? I don't think so! They could get unbelievable performances out of themselves and dominate every player out there. But that is not the same as getting a whole team to perform with you. Cricket is a team sport. So would Warne have been a good captain? A big maybe, and even then only in a team full of players nearly as talented as him (the Aussie side pre-ashes 05 is about his only option here for him). Anything else he would have been a captain in the mould of the players mentioned above. That is, a complete an utter failure as a captain.

Posted by Governor on May 06 2008, 10:27 AM GMT

Chappelli is right!! Shane Warne is an attacking captain who plays to win. Attacking captains like Ian Chappell, Mike Gatting, Sir Garfield Sobers, David Hookes, Imran Khan and Mark Taylor believed in attack being the best form of defence. CHappelli, Sir Garfield Sobers, RIchie Benaud, Les Flavell and David Hookes were entertainers and winners. They played the game to win by adopting the theory of attack being the best form of defence!! In hindsight, if Shane Warne was awarded the captaincy ahead of SR Waugh, his career bloopers may not have happened. The captaincy may have allowed him to mature as a human being more quickly due to the responsibility and privilege of being captain of Australia!! We would never know. I reckon he would have made Ricky Ponting a better captain!! Steve Waugh was a selfish captain who was more concerned about his batting average and his win-loss ratio as captain!!

Posted by Dophile on May 06 2008, 08:20 AM GMT

This is simple and magnificient. He has been given a modest & average players. To get the best out of them one need to know to handle man management, this is excatly what he has done. To make one beleive and perform, he has done that. He is truely leading by example. Hope to see him continue and set standards for others to follow, it's a great opportunity for him to show the world, what they have missed of him when playing for his country. - Keep it going Warneeeeee & Royals.... Best of Luck with the Success

Posted by bigyanmihir on May 06 2008, 06:16 AM GMT

No wonder that Shane Warne, the greatest living bowler of the cricket ball, is being lionised on his achievements as the captain of Rajasthan Royals IPL team. Winning a game of cricket is about taking 20 wickets in a test match. There is a difference between skillful bowlers and clever bowlers. Shane Warne has both skill and cunningness. Like a chess player he planned his great opponents' fall. The famous dismissal of Mike Gatting is an example of this aspect. He always had smile for his conquerers - a smile of genuine appreciation. In the famous 'desert storm' in Sharjah, Warne was decimated by another legendary cricketer, Sachin Tendulkar. He accepted the ruling of the Master ever so graciously with a smile and a clap of appreciation for a six or a century here and there. That was because he knew and appreciated the craftsmanship of the batsman who conquered him like a true professional. Share Warne could have been the longest serving and the greatest captains of the game.

Posted by ErnestHemingway on May 06 2008, 06:08 AM GMT

I totally agree with what NikkonCric said. Anyone I mean anyone can lead a team full of geniuses like Sachin, Brett Lee, Yuvraj, Dhoni, Pullock, Hayden, Hussy and all the others but the best leader is he who leads average players ,inculcates in them the virtues of hardwork,dedication,team spirit and then motivates them and brings out the best in them and then leads them by example to victory-that is shane warne for u. I added lines by Nikkon which I couldn't say any better. And I for one hope Shane Warne team wins this tournament they deserve it. All other teams are full of themselves with likes of HEORS in them but Real MAN is Warne. Remember what the wicketkeeper said when he won the MOTM award Asodkar? My captain faith and believe inspired me. Believe and Faith in someone can do wonders. And Warne believes in every player on his team. Lastly, he is a fighter in every aspect of the game. Cricket is out team play not INDIVIDUAL STARS who are bought for MILLIONS.

Posted by MMHS on May 06 2008, 04:07 AM GMT

I believe, it was not Shane's personal life (I don't fancy ChappelI or Rickey were that good boy), rather than his relationship with some ACB officials, that didn't allow him to be statistically the greatest Captain in the history of the game. When I look back & think what this outstanding Aussie team achieved under 2 of the most boring & negative captains in their history (Sorry Steve, Shane wouldn't have allowed India to win Eden Test & Rickey, you were simply outclassed in Ashes 05, by Michel, though Australia was a much better team & had a wizard taking 40 scalps. You know, this Aussie team leaves little scope for others, but whenever someone came to challenge, neither Steve nor Rickey could impress). I believe similar was the case with Miller, who was not the best of Bradman's friends. The enthusiasm that Shane could generate in a 50 over game or the passion still he is showing after retirement, in a 20 over game at nearly 40, I wonder what we have lost in a 5 day thriler

Posted by Paullie on May 05 2008, 22:31 PM GMT

I agree completely with Mr Chappell - Warne is a tactical genius and an inspirational leader. Unfortunately he's also a collossal bogan. And there's more to being a captain than just winning matches. And that's something the alternative choice did at a better rate than anyone else in Australian history.

Posted by Shefali on May 05 2008, 19:40 PM GMT

Shane Warne has always been my favourite cricketer and as said he would have probably be one of the greatest captains Australia ever had. Unfortunately due to off field activities the world missed out on a an art of captaincy. Hope he watch him player Poker in Vegas

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