Possibly but also because his batting meant that his team was almost unbeatableDon Bradman. Because he more than compensated his captaincy skills with inspiration
Case in pointThe best I've ever seen is Stephen Fleming.
No, i think he really did make a difference. Maybe not a huge one, but New Zealand's results were better than the quality of their players.Case in point
Made a mediocre side better but was very rarely the difference between winning and losing because the players under him werent good enough
Fleming DID make a difference - he was an excellent captain who got the most out of a committed group of players with his tactical nous and leadershipNo, i think he really did make a difference. Maybe not a huge one, but New Zealand's results were better than the quality of their players.
Even more stark is the difference in India's performances under Dhoni and under Kumble in recent times.
There are some pretty mediocre players in there tbh.Because Astle, McMillan, Richardson, Cairns, Twose (ODIs), Bond, Tuffey, Vettori, Nash, Franklin, Parore, Oram and himself are really mediocre.
The question is about ODI captaincy, but I get the feeling social was referring to Fleming in the Test environment, in which case he's got a bloody good point. We might have had a few talented players, but how often did they actually play? Cairns, Bond, Tuffey, Nash, Franklin and Oram have all missed large chunks of their careers due to injuries.Because Astle, McMillan, Richardson, Cairns, Twose (ODIs), Bond, Tuffey, Vettori, Nash, Franklin, Parore, Oram and himself are really mediocre.
Side on the up?Fleming DID make a difference - he was an excellent captain who got the most out of a committed group of players with his tactical nous and leadership
But his record is mediocre simply because the players werent great
Jury is still out on Dhoni.
He's inherited a side on the up and has done incredibly well but some of his decisions are baffling and he gets very defensive at the slightest sign of pressure.
No Bradman? ITSTL. For me, he was the best captain any team could hope to get.Currently - Smith or Vettori for mine. Dhoni's not been doing it for long enough, and if he's to captain and keep in three forms of the game, it will be interesting to see how he copes in the medium to long term.
All time - Jardine would be up there, Armstrong must be too given his results though England were weak post-WWI. Benaud is often forgotten here - he was apparently superb and, most importantly, lucky. "You could put your hand in a bucket of **** Benords, and still grab a handful of diamonds" I think was the quote attributed to one of his players. Worrell's unifying influence and symbolic importance was massive as well.
In more modern times, Lloyd was obviously great in managing the Windies sides, though they were great too. Vaughan was good but not for long enough to be considered an all timer imo. Tubby was tactically the most astute of recent Aussie captains by far. Imran was legendary in Pakistan as well.
All time, I'd prob. go Imran, Benaud on a par, then Lloyd and Taylor. Each of the latter took teams on the rise to the next level, and in Taylor's case was a refreshing contrast to Border's conservatism which preceded him.