Cricket's worst captaincy decisions

[subshakerz]

As the title suggests. Interested to hear examples that stick in your minds during your cricket watching. I am classifying them in the following ways:

- Selection decisions

- Toss calls

- On-field tactical decisions

- Batting order decisions

To start it off, the worst decision I have seen in my viewing days has to be deciding to not play Allan Donald during the World Cup 96 QF. Donald was likely the best pace bowler in the world at the time and SA were unbeaten in the tournament. Then Cronje and his camp chose to not play him to give an extra spinner slot. Lara massacred them and the rest is history.

 

[trundler]

 

[subshakerz]

I keep wondering which call was worse, this or Edgbaston by Ponting in 2005. Ponting's may be more arrogance while Hussain's is a massive brain fade.

P.s. I always love Chappell's question at the toss 'What's the thinking?' Like seriously, are you out of your mind?

 

[Starfighter]

Tim Paine electing to bowl at The Oval in 2019. Such a tremendously dumb decision given the ground's history and the rather dry pitch. While I don't expect them to know the County results there, you'd think someone might have remembered Cook getting a fearful hiding after making the same choice in near identical conditions. It's the bat-firstiest ground in England. I decided not to watch the match after that, I knew it would cost us the chance to actually win the series and so it proved.

 

[BazBall21]

I keep wondering which call was worse, this or Edgbaston by Ponting in 2005. Ponting's may be more arrogance while Hussain's is a massive brain fade.

P.s. I always love Chappell's question at the toss 'What's the thinking?' Like seriously, are you out of your mind?

Have seen some people say Root’s call at Brisbane last year was worse.

 

[Adders]

Nah Ponting at Edgbaston was defo brain dead with McGrath ruled out of the test.

Funny though......reckon we might see a lot more "we'll have a bowl" after what's transpired this English summer.

 

[GIMH]

Whether or not it was a worse call than Nasser or Root’s, we’d have probably lost those Tests anyway. Edgbaston…not so sure

 

[subshakerz]

Have seen some people say Root’s call at Brisbane last year was worse.

Batting first on a green wicket or swinging conditions can be defended if like Mark Taylor that is your go-to approach regardless of pitch conditions.

 

[subshakerz]

Nah Ponting at Edgbaston was defo brain dead with McGrath ruled out of the test.

Funny though......reckon we might see a lot more "we'll have a bowl" after what's transpired this English summer.

Ponting also had that infamous decision to bowl part-timers art Nagpur in 2008.

 

[trundler]

Babar Azam resorting to shitty finger spin when the ball was reverse swinging like crazy in Karachi was dumb af too

 

[Dendarii]

- Selection decisions

- Toss calls

- Batting order decisions

Are these ones really captaincy decisions? On-field decisions are up to the captain, but the others will have usually been made in conjunction with the coach and possibly senior players as well. We talk about it being the captain who decides things like what to do after winning the toss and when to declare, but it's not very often that it's solely up to the captain.

 

[subshakerz]

Are these ones really captaincy decisions? On-field decisions are up to the captain, but the others will have usually been made in conjunction with the coach and possibly senior players as well. We talk about it being the captain who decides things like what to do after winning the toss and when to declare, but it's not very often that it's solely up to the captain.

I agree, but the captain is usually the deciding vote and ultimately the one responsible for the decision.

 

[subshakerz]

Babar Azam resorting to ****ty finger spin when the ball was reverse swinging like crazy in Karachi was dumb af too

His whole negative approach that series was a shame on cricket.

 

[BazBall21]

His whole negative approach that series was a shame on cricket.

Not a great series but WI vs Eng was bad too

 

[Fuller Pilch]

McCullum continuing on with his plan to smash Starc in the 1st over of the World Cup final after missing on his first couple of attempts.

 

[Flem274*]

Selecting FC top order batsman Michael Bracewell as a specialist offspinner batting at #8.

Fire Gary Stead and Gavin Larsen.

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

Captains who fail to put in a short-leg for a new batsman

 

[TheJediBrah]

McCullum continuing on with his plan to smash Starc in the 1st over of the World Cup final after missing on his first couple of attempts.

clearly intimidated by the size of the MCG

 

[BoyBrumby]

Not sure we can pin the blame solely on Punter as it was a selectorial decision, but the decision to omit a specialist spinner for the 5th and deciding test at The Oval (a track then renowned for taking a bit of turn as the game progresses) in 2009 because their all seam attack had obliterated us at Headingly in the 4th test, was a bit short sighted.

Swann took 8 in the match (think Marcus North picked up a few in lieu of a specialist in our 2nd dig too) and the rest is history.

 

[subshakerz]

Not sure we can pin the blame solely on Punter as it was a selectorial decision, but the decision to omit a specialist spinner for the 5th and deciding test at The Oval (a track then renowned for taking a bit of turn as the game progresses) in 2009 because their all seam attack had obliterated us at Headingly in the 4th test, was a bit short sighted.

Swann took 8 in the match (think Marcus North picked up a few in lieu of a specialist in our 2nd dig too) and the rest is history.

That was a strange series because Australia felt like a stronger team yet still lost.