Moments of Ingenious Captaincy

[Loony BoB]

Every now and then, whether it be putting someone up the order or setting a field or doing something obscure - such as opening the bowling with a spin bowler a la Fleming/Vettori - a captain will make a decision that will pay off in a way that few others would have ever envisaged until they saw it being done. So, what are the ones that caught your eye?

EDIT: And if I remember rightly, the Fleming/Vettori thing was done before by Crowe and Patel... should probably add that in since they did it first.

 

[luckyeddie]

Every now and then, whether it be putting someone up the order or setting a field or doing something obscure - such as opening the bowling with a spin bowler a la Fleming/Vettori - a captain will make a decision that will pay off in a way that few others would have ever envisaged until they saw it being done. So, what are the ones that caught your eye?

Ricky Ponting - anything he does is simply divine

 

[Lillian Thomson]

One example would be from the 1975 Test at Lords when Australia were struggling for a wicket in the second innings and the new ball was due. With Lillee and Thomson waiting in the wings Ian Chappell gave the new ball to Doug Walters who immediately caught and bowled David Steele with a full toss.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Allan Border bringing on Shane Warne when Aus were in Sri Lanka (about '92, I think) with the Lankans only needing 30-40 to win, with 4 in hand. He took three quick wickets to take Australia to victory when they looked nowhere near it. Was the first time he showed a glimpse of what was to come, as well.

 

[LongHopCassidy]

Steve Waugh throwing the ball to Damien Martyn for the last over before tea. He promptly bowled Robert Key.

 

[shaka]

Hansie Cronje declaring to create a match after 3 days rained out, I think they were playing England, they did the same thing.

 

[Sehwag309]

Azhar giving the last over to Tendulkar (Cant remeber the game)- v/s South Africa
Ganguly giving it to Sehwag v/s South Africa in ICC 2002 (Semi) 2nd Last Over

 

[Craig]

The ODI series against South Africa in 2000 at Telstra Dome where Andrew Hall came on in the 2nd ODI to get South Africa a tie and the way he bowled in the 3rd game despite keeping wicket.

 

[marc71178]

Hansie Cronje declaring to create a match after 3 days rained out, I think they were playing England, they did the same thing.

Not really ingenious captaincy though, really (although people thought it at the time)

 

[Craig]

If not captaincy, but selection when Australia selected Peter Taylor back in 1986-87 against England at The SCG, Taylor got the man of the match with both bat and bowl earning him the gong and Australia won. The reason I mentioned it because Taylor had played only a handfull of FC games for NSW and was approaching 30.

 

[BoyBrumby]

The moment when DR Jardine met with Frank Foster in his Belgravia flat in the summer of 1932.....

 

[pskov]

Hansie Cronje declaring to create a match after 3 days rained out, I think they were playing England, they did the same thing.

He only did that because he was 'encouraged' to create a result by a wealthy financial backer, who then promptly put a couple of thousand Rand on a result occuring at ridiculously long odds.

 

[honestbharani]

Asking VVS to bat at 3 at the Eden in the 2001 series...

 

[SJS]

Ian Botham : stepping down as captain

 

[SJS]

Ganguly : Taking far too long over his teams 50 overs and getting himself banned and thereby out of the Indian team

 

[honestbharani]

Ganguly : Taking far too long over his teams 50 overs and getting himself banned and thereby out of the Indian team

lol...good one, SJS.

 

[King_Ponting]

Ganguly : Taking far too long over his teams 50 overs and getting himself banned and thereby out of the Indian team

Smartest move hes ever made as captain

 

[Mister Wright]

Laxman batting at 3 against Australia - that was a great move at the time.

 

[King_Ponting]

Ponting - Nearly everything he does as captain, simply exquisuite

 

[Deja moo]

Ingenious moves = pure luck.