Chances are that you’re already quite familiar with the sport if you’re in the running for team captain (or hope to be soon). However, there’s always more to learn. Become a devoted student of the game—attend regional events, watch televised matches, and read books on gameplay and psychology. Everything you take in will become a part of your tool set.
Don’t become panicked or frustrated when the opposing team has a sizable lead. Just concentrate on the next play, then the next, then the next, one at a time. Fixating on too many things at once will only leave your energy and attention divided. Mental strength is perhaps the single most important attribute that a cricket captain can possess. After all, no amount of talent will lead you to victory if you’re already defeated in your own mind. [3] X Research source
It’s also helpful to recognize when another player may have a better grasp of strategy than you do. If you’re not very good at putting together a backup plan when a play goes awry but one of your teammates is, asking them for their advice will be in everyone’s best interest. One common mistake that skippers make is thinking that they have to manage everything themselves. It’s much wiser to treat each aspect of the game as a collaborative effort, including captaincy.
Learn to trust your gut when it comes to making calls that you’re uncertain about. It will rarely lead you astray. [6] X Research source Resist the urge to blame your teammates when things don’t work out the way you’d hoped. This will only make you look petty and self-centered, which is not how a good leader should be.
In recent years, some leagues have begun doing away with the traditional coin toss, instead giving the visiting team the privilege of choosing their first play. [7] X Research source
One of a skipper’s unofficial duties is to inspire and motivate their fellow players. There’s no better way to do this than to put in a rousing performance each and every time you take to the pitch. You don’t have to be a star player to be a great cricket captain. In fact, some of the best skippers of all time have been average players who just happened to have a head for planning, strategizing, and organizing managing manpower. [9] X Research source
Assure your teammates that your personal feelings haven’t factored into your decision, and that you’re only doing what you think is best for the team. If you give a player reason to believe that they’ve been dropped or rotated unfairly, they may accuse you of playing favorites or engaging in team politics, which is not something you want to have to deal with.
The irony of never letting someone play because you don’t think they’re good enough is that they’ll never have the opportunity to improve. If you’re worried about a poor performance affecting your chances of winning, assign young and less experienced players to batting positions 7-11 in innings where mistakes are less likely to have disastrous repercussions.
It’s especially important to make sure you’re on your best behavior during pre- and post-game interviews, special events, and other occasions where you’re interacting with the public. In many ways, the captain is the face of the team. If people don’t think very highly of you, your team’s image may suffer, as well.
Your teammates are likely to have valuable insights to share, since they each occupy a unique position in relation to the other players and therefore have a unique perspective on the way matches unfold. Just because you’re receptive to outside ideas doesn’t mean you always have to put them into practice. Weigh the feedback you get carefully and determine whether it’s actually beneficial before figuring out what to do with it.
Do your best to avoid looking like you’re choosing sides, even if you think one side is clearly in the right. Doing so could alienate one of your players, and a single weak link is all it takes to break the chain.
Keep in mind that not all cricket enthusiasts take the game as seriously as others, especially if your team is part of an amateur league. Many will just be happy to be outside and play their favorite game. [16] X Research source Think of having fun as a strategy in itself, if you need to. The better a time your teammates are having, the better they’re likely to perform.
