Captains’ fortunes changing with time

Surely Dame Luck can be fickle. As Azharuddin, or even Australian skipper Mark Taylor can vouch for.

When he took charge of the Australian team, Taylor felt that cricket coach Bobby Simpson’s influence on the team was far too strong. This, he felt, mutated the personality of the players. The only way to allow the personality to reach its full bloom was to snap off the umbilical cord, that Simpson represented, Taylor reasoned.

Presently, Simpson, who was actively involved in Australian resurgence from1977, first as captain during the Kerry Packer years, and later as cricket coach, was eased out and Taylor, a strong personality himself, went on to mould the team to his liking. Successive triumphs earned for his team the tag of unofficial world champs even as they embarked on the tour to India.

But even during the winning years Taylor did not have things all his way. For a long time form deserted him and he looked lost at the batting crease. Like Azharuddin he did not know where the next run was coming from. But such is the character of the man that he did not allow personal failures to cramp his leadership style. On the other hand, he was able to coax his teammates into coming up with some outstanding performances. This was the secret of the team’s success.

On the matter, the all-conquering West Indies under Clive Lloyd worked on the philosophy of softening the opponents’ skipper with a barrage of bouncers. Once the `head’ went they reasoned the rest of the team would follow.

It certainly worked forthe Windies. But Australia under Taylor whose batting went to pieces for close to two years still found victories coming their way.

Deposed as one-day skipper, Taylor managed to hang on as captain, during the England and South Africa series. However, the ordeal he is presently undergoing in India might be the stiffest of his career. A 3-0 brownwash coming on top of Australia’s worst-ever defeat in 60 years would be just the ammunition his critics require.

Azharuddin, on the other hand, is savouring every bit of success. He has experienced either side of the coin and would want to enjoy his every moment in the sun.

In the West Indies he looked lost, unsettled and unfocused. Yet even then he believed that he was destined to lead India again. When the nation celebrated its 50th year of Independence he was kept out of the party. A dreary Test series punctuated by tall scores (by everybody virtually) in Sri Lanka allowed him to get a toe-hold in the team.

Reinstated as skipper after Sachin Tendulkar failedto retain the selectors’ confidence, Azharuddin has gone from strength to strength. The brownwash of the Australians would be just the icing on the cake in the career of this master batsman.

The Bangalore Test might still be a watershed in the career of either skipper. One clearly on the ascendancy and the other probably fading away after a glorious record.