cricketweb chooses the best cricket captain ever: the contest thread

[mr_mister]

So, I'm gonna randomise the 64 names into 8 groups of 8. Choose 4 from each group you want to advance to the next round. This will continue for 3 rounds until there is 8 people left, then it'l be groups of 4 for 2 more rounds

I'll be randomising the field each new round, so don't bother scouting out potential paths of players


I think this style works better for this kind of thing actually



I know this is gonna be an effort voting in round 1, but good luck people. Oh, and consider any and all formats of cricket they captained in when voting. Yes I know this will be a bit of a shamozzle because only half the field captained limited overs matches, but I don't want to not include limited overs captaincy in the voting, and I also don't want to run 2 tournaments at once. If somebody's ODI success mean more to you than FC cricket, vote accordingly I guess. Just try to take their overall captaincy skill into account


Group 1:

Clem Hill
Viv Richards
John Reid
Percy Chapman
Herbie Taylor
Mahela Jaywardene
Richie Richardson
Mike Brearley

Group 2:

Joe Darling
Ray Illingworth
Monty Noble
Imran Khan
Heath Streak
Bill Lawry
Graeme Smith
Douglas Jardine

Group 3:

Michael Clarke
Hansie Cronje
Steve Waugh
Michael Vaughan
Don Bradman
Nawab Pataudi Jr.
Ted Dexter
Clive Lloyd

Group 4:

Misbah ul-Haq
Sourav Ganguly
Bill Woodfull
Shaun Pollock
Gary Sobers
Ali Bacher
Nasser Hussain
Lala Armanath

Group 5:

Warwick Armstrong
Ricky Ponting
Greg Chappell
Martin Crowe
Abdul Kardar
Bredon McCullum
Allan Border
Wasim Akram

Group 6:

Kepler Wessels
WG Grace
Bevan Congdon
Pelham Warner
Freddie Brown
Frank Worrell
Darren Sammy
Kapil Dev

Group 7:

Mustaq Mohammad
Ajit Wadekar
Arthur Shrewsbury
Peter May
Geoff Howarth
Dan Vettori
Len Hutton
Brian Close

Group 8:

Stephen Fleming
Richie Benaud
MS Dhoni
Andrew Strauss
Ian Chappell
Arjuna Ranatunga
Mark Taylor
Bob Simpson

 

[jimmy101]

Group 1:

Viv Richards
John Reid
Percy Chapman
Mike Brearley

Group 2:

Ray Illingworth
Imran Khan
Bill Lawry
Douglas Jardine

Group 3:

Steve Waugh
Michael Vaughan
Nawab Pataudi Jr.
Clive Lloyd

Group 4:

Misbah ul-Haq
Sourav Ganguly
Bill Woodfull
Nasser Hussain

Group 5:

Warwick Armstrong
Martin Crowe
Abdul Kardar
Allan Border

Group 6:

Kepler Wessels
Bevan Congdon
Pelham Warner
Frank Worrell

Group 7:

Ajit Wadekar
Peter May
Geoff Howarth
Len Hutton

Group 8:

Richie Benaud
Ian Chappell
Arjuna Ranatunga
Mark Taylor

Man group 8 was really, really hard. Flem & MSD so unlucky to miss out.

 

[jimmy101]

Group 3

Wright
Bradman
Dexter
Lloyd

Wright-o then.

 

[honestbharani]

I dont even know half enough of these players to comment on their captaincy styles. Gonna sit this one out I guess.

 

[a massive zebra]

Group 1:


Viv Richards
Percy Chapman
Mahela Jaywardene
Mike Brearley

Group 2:

Ray Illingworth
Imran Khan
Graeme Smith
Douglas Jardine

Group 3:

Steve Waugh
Don Bradman
Ted Dexter
Clive Lloyd

Group 4:

Misbah ul-Haq
Sourav Ganguly
Bill Woodfull
Nasser Hussain

Group 5:

Warwick Armstrong
Abdul Kardar
Bredon McCullum
Allan Border

Group 6:

Kepler Wessels
WG Grace
Bevan Congdon
Frank Worrell

Group 7:

Mustaq Mohammad
Peter May
Len Hutton
Brian Close

Group 8:

Richie Benaud
Ian Chappell
Arjuna Ranatunga
Mark Taylor

 

[morgieb]

Group 1:

John Reid
Percy Chapman
Mahela Jaywardene
Mike Brearley

A field I had difficulty with. Brearley was perhaps the only person in the modern era to get selected purely for his captaincy skills (though I suspect he's a bit overhyped in that regard) so it's hard to look past him, and Jayawardene was a fine captain too. Chapman seems to have a good record though was a relic of his time, but I'll still slot him in. 4th one tougher, I have no idea re: Taylor and Hill's captaincy, Richards strikes me as a captain of a great team rather than a great captain himself, and Richardson is a similar boat. In addition, Reid's record is patchy. Gonna go Reid though, as he was a big reason in New Zealand becoming a respectable side.

Group 2:

Ray Illingworth
Imran Khan
Graeme Smith
Douglas Jardine

Easier field. I understand that Smith and Jardine's aren't everyone's cup of tea, but Smith was a very fine captain and Jardine helped change the game. Meanwhile Imran commanded respect of his peers for a country where that's typically quite tough, and while Illingworth is a huge reason for why England was such a mess in the 90's, he was a very strong captain.

Group 3:

Nawab Pataudi
Michael Vaughan
Steve Waugh
Clive Lloyd

Loaded field. Cronje omitted for obvious reasons, but other than that it's close. Clarke was probably the best tactican I ever saw, but there were too many scandals in Australian cricket for his run as captain to be looked on that kindly, Bradman seemed a little too disagreeable as a character to be rated as a truly great captain and while I rate JBMAC's judgement re: Dexter I don't know enough to vote for him over the other four who can all be considered top-class captains.

Group 4:

Misbah ul-Haq
Sourav Ganguly
Bill Woodfull
Ali Bacher

Sobers is a great cricketer but a poor captain, Pollock is kinda similar, so they're out. Nasser did get respectability back towards England, but he never had the aura of the above four, whereas I don't know Amarnath well enough to judge and his record isn't stellar. Hard to know how good Bacher was, but he did a lot for South African cricket and he did win all four games he captained.

Group 5:

Warwick Armstrong
Abdul Kardar
Brendon McCullum
Allan Border

Another tricky draw, but I think all four of them were standouts. Not sure Border was an amazing captain tactically, but he did a lot to get Australian cricket back on its feet. Crowe unlucky, looked like he was a beast around the 92 World Cup, but McCullum's first couple of years as captain swings it. (helps I actually saw McCullum captain but didn't see Crowe do it)

Group 6:

Kepler Wessels
Bevan Congdon
Pelham Warner
Frank Worrell

Not a field I'm particularly familiar with bar Worrell (Sammy being included is a bit strange IMO). Congdon seems to be a key character in New Zealand becoming a solid team, and I get the feeling Plum had to be a strong captain too. Guess Kepler for spot 4 as he was key in the rebirth of South African cricket.

Group 7:

Ajit Wadekar
Peter May
Geoff Howarth
Len Hutton

The standouts here, though I will admit I don't know the non-Vettori captains well.

Group 8:

Stephen Fleming
Richie Benaud
Ian Chappell
Mark Taylor

Four really great captains, wouldn't be a terrible final four in all honesty. And I had to omit Ranatunga, too, who while is a dick was key to briging respect to Sri Lankan cricket. These four will go far.

 

[mr_mister]

Great write ups morgieb, enjoyed reading it

 

[wpdavid]

Group 1
Percy Chapman
Mike Brearley
Mahela Jayawardene
John Reid


Group 2
Ray Illingworth
Imran Khan
Graeme Smith
Douglas Jardine


Group 3
Michael Vaughan
Clive lloyd
Michael Clarke
Don Bradman


Group 4
Misbah ul Haq
Ali Bacher
Nasser Hussain
Sourav Ganguly


Group 5
Warwick Armstrong
Abdul Kardar
Allan Border
Greg Chappell


Group 6
Freddie Brown
Frank Worrell
Darren Sammy
Bev Congdon


Group 7
Mushtaq Mohammad
Geoff Howarth
Len Hutton
Brian Close


Group 8
Richie Benaud
Andrew Strauss
Mark Taylor
Arjuna Ranatunga

 

[marc71178]

Viv Richards
Percy Chapman
Richie Richardson
Mike Brearley

Ray Illingworth
Imran Khan
Graeme Smith
Douglas Jardine

Steve Waugh
Michael Vaughan
Ted Dexter
Clive Lloyd

Misbah ul-Haq
Bill Woodfull
Gary Sobers
Nasser Hussain

Warwick Armstrong
Greg Chappell
Martin Crowe
Allan Border

Kepler Wessels
WG Grace
Pelham Warner
Darren Sammy

Arthur Shrewsbury
Peter May
Len Hutton
Brian Close

Stephen Fleming
Richie Benaud
Andrew Strauss
Mark Taylor

 

[AndrewB]

Group 1:
Viv Richards
John Reid
Percy Chapman
Mike Brearley

Group 2:
Ray Illingworth
Monty Noble
Imran Khan
Graeme Smith

Group 3:
Steve Waugh
Michael Vaughan
Don Bradman
Clive Lloyd

Group 4:
Misbah ul-Haq
Sourav Ganguly
Ali Bacher
Nasser Hussain

Group 5:
Greg Chappell
Martin Crowe
Allan Border
Wasim Akram

Group 6:
WG Grace
Frank Worrell
Darren Sammy
Kapil Dev

Group 7:
Ajit Wadekar
Geoff Howarth
Len Hutton
Brian Close

Group 8:
Stephen Fleming
Richie Benaud
Mark Taylor
Bob Simpson

 

[fredfertang]

Group 1:

John Reid
Percy Chapman
Herbie Taylor
Mike Brearley

Group 2:

Ray Illingworth
Imran Khan
Graeme Smith
Douglas Jardine

Group 3:

Michael Vaughan
Don Bradman
Nawab Pataudi Jr.
Clive Lloyd

Group 4:

Misbah ul-Haq
Sourav Ganguly
Bill Woodfull
Nasser Hussain

Group 5:

Warwick Armstrong
Abdul Kardar
Bredon McCullum
Allan Border

Group 6:

Bevan Congdon
Frank Worrell
Darren Sammy
Kapil Dev

Group 7:

Ajit Wadekar
Dan Vettori
Len Hutton
Brian Close

Group 8:

Stephen Fleming
Richie Benaud
Ian Chappell
Arjuna Ranatunga

 

[Red]

Group 1:

Clem Hill
Viv Richards
Mahela Jaywardene
Mike Brearley

Group 2:


Ray Illingworth
Imran Khan
Graeme Smith
Douglas Jardine


Group 3:

Steve Waugh
Michael Vaughan
Don Bradman
Clive Lloyd


Group 4:

Sourav Ganguly
Bill Woodfull
Ali Bacher
Nasser Hussain


Group 5:

Warwick Armstrong
Ricky Ponting
Allan Border
Wasim Akram


Group 6:

Pelham Warner
Freddie Brown
Frank Worrell
Kapil Dev



Group 7:

Arthur Shrewsbury
Geoff Howarth
Dan Vettori
Len Hutton


Group 8:

Richie Benaud
Ian Chappell
Mark Taylor
Bob Simpson

 

[Starfighter]

Group 1:

Clem Hill
Viv Richards
Percy Chapman
Mike Brearley

Group 2:

Ray Illingworth
Monty Noble
Bill Lawry
Douglas Jardine

Group 3:

Steve Waugh
Don Bradman
Ted Dexter
Clive Lloyd

Group 4:

Misbah ul-Haq
Bill Woodfull
Nasser Hussain
Lala Armanath

Group 5:

Warwick Armstrong
Ricky Ponting
Greg Chappell
Allan Border

Group 6:

WG Grace
Bevan Congdon
Pelham Warner
Frank Worrell

Group 7:

Arthur Shrewsbury
Peter May
Geoff Howarth
Len Hutton

Group 8:

Richie Benaud
Ian Chappell
Mark Taylor
Bob Simpson

 

[Burgey]

Group 1:

Viv Richards
Percy Chapman
Mahela Jaywardene
Mike Brearley

Group 2:

Ray Illingworth
Imran Khan
Graeme Smith
Douglas Jardine

Group 3:

Michael Clarke
Steve Waugh
Don Bradman
Clive Lloyd

Group 4:

Misbah ul-Haq
Bill Woodfull
Gary Sobers
Nasser Hussain

Group 5:

Warwick Armstrong
Ricky Ponting
Greg Chappell
Allan Border

Group 6:

Bevan Congdon
Pelham Warner
Frank Worrell
Kapil Dev

Group 7:

Mustaq Mohammad
Arthur Shrewsbury
Dan Vettori
Len Hutton

Group 8:

Richie Benaud
Ian Chappell
Arjuna Ranatunga
Mark Taylor


Group 8 particularly brutal imo. Would have had Dhoni and Strauss in most other groups, but couldn't leave out Arjuna or Tubby, while the Tory ****, Chappelli and Benords were locks for me.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Lmao why are half the great captains in one group?

 

[mr_mister]

Because it's randomised

 

[mr_mister]

i'm gonna have a vote. a lot of my voting is based off what i've read on cricinfo, i have no idea how to rank captains before my time honestly but still if we all abstained from voting because of that we'd only have JBMAC and Lillian Thompson casting votes lol


Group 1:

John Reid
Percy Chapman
Herbie Taylor
Mike Brearley

Group 2:

Imran Khan
Heath Streak
Graeme Smith
Douglas Jardine

Group 3:

Hansie Cronje
Steve Waugh
Michael Vaughan
Clive Lloyd

Group 4:

Misbah ul-Haq
Sourav Ganguly
Bill Woodfull
Nasser Hussain


Group 5:

Warwick Armstrong
Martin Crowe
Bredon McCullum
Allan Border


Group 6:

Kepler Wessels
Pelham Warner
Freddie Brown
Frank Worrell

Group 7:

Peter May
Geoff Howarth
Len Hutton
Brian Close

Group 8:

Stephen Fleming
Ian Chappell
Arjuna Ranatunga
Mark Taylor

 

[mr_mister]

Score update:


Group 1:

Mike Brearley (11 votes)
Percy Chapman (10 votes)
Viv Richards (7 votes)
John Reid (6 votes)
Mahela Jayawardne (5 votes)
Clem Hill (2 votes)
Herbie Taylor (2 votes)
Richie Richardson (1 vote)


Group 2:

Ray Illingworth (10 votes)
Imran Khan (10 votes)
Douglas Jardine (10 votes)
Graeme Smith (9 votes)
Bill Lawry (2 votes)
Monty Noble (2 votes)
Heath Streak (1 vote)
Joe Darling (0 votes)

Group 3:

Clive Lloyd (11 votes)
Steve Waugh (9 votes)
Michael Vaughan (8 votes)
Don Bradman (7 votes)
Nawab Pautidi Jr (3 votes)
Michael Clarke (2 votes)
Hansie Cronje (1 vote)


Group 4

Misbah Ul-Haq (10 votes)
Nasser Hussain (10 votes)
Bill Woodfull (9 votes)
Sourav Ganguly (8 votes)
Gary Sobers (2 votes)
Ali Bacher (1 vote)
Lala Armanath (1 vote)
Shaun Pollock (0 votes)


Group 5:

Allan Border (11 votes)
Warwick Armstrong (10 votes)
Greg Chappell (5 votes)
Abdul Kardar (5 votes)
Martin Crowe (4 votes)
Brendan McCullum (4 votes)
Ricky Ponting (3 votes)
Wasim Akram (2 votes)


Group 6:

Frank Worrell (10 votes)
Pelham Warner (7 votes)
Bevan Congdon (6 votes)
Kepler Wessells (5 votes)
Kapil Dev (4 votes)
Darren Sammy (4 votes)
WG Grace (4 votes)
Freddie Brown (3 votes)

Group 7:

Len Hutton (11 votes)
Geoff Howarth (7 votes)
Peter May (6 votes)
Brian Close (6 votes)
Arthur Shrewsbury (4 votes)
Ajit Wadeker (4 votes)
Dan Vettori (3 votes)
Mustaq Mohammad (2 votes)



Group 8:

Richie Benaud (10 votes)
Mark Taylor (10 votes)
Ian Chappell (8 votes)
Arjuna Ranatunga (6 votes)
Stephen Fleming (5 votes)
Bob Simpson (3 votes)
Andrew Strauss (3 votes)
MS Dhoni (0 votes)

 

[jimmy101]

Might be worth leaving R1 open a little longer. Some of the groups are really close.

 

[JBMAC]

So, I'm gonna randomise the 64 names into 8 groups of 8. Choose 4 from each group you want to advance to the next round. This will continue for 3 rounds until there is 8 people left, then it'l be groups of 4 for 2 more rounds

I'll be randomising the field each new round, so don't bother scouting out potential paths of players


I think this style works better for this kind of thing actually



I know this is gonna be an effort voting in round 1, but good luck people. Oh, and consider any and all formats of cricket they captained in when voting. Yes I know this will be a bit of a shamozzle because only half the field captained limited overs matches, but I don't want to not include limited overs captaincy in the voting, and I also don't want to run 2 tournaments at once. If somebody's ODI success mean more to you than FC cricket, vote accordingly I guess. Just try to take their overall captaincy skill into account


Group 1:

Clem Hill
Viv Richards
John Reid
Percy Chapman
Herbie Taylor
Mahela Jaywardene
Richie Richardson
Mike Brearley

Group 2:

Joe Darling
Ray Illingworth
Monty Noble
Imran Khan
Heath Streak
Bill Lawry
Graeme Smith
Douglas Jardine

Group 3:

Michael Clarke
Hansie Cronje
Steve Waugh
Michael Vaughan
Don Bradman
Nawab Pataudi Jr.
Ted Dexter
Clive Lloyd

Group 4:

Misbah ul-Haq
Sourav Ganguly
Bill Woodfull
Shaun Pollock
Gary Sobers
Ali Bacher
Nasser Hussain
Lala Armanath

Group 5:

Warwick Armstrong
Ricky Ponting
Greg Chappell
Martin Crowe
Abdul Kardar
Bredon McCullum
Allan Border
Wasim Akram

Group 6:

Kepler Wessels
WG Grace
Bevan Congdon
Pelham Warner
Freddie Brown
Frank Worrell
Darren Sammy
Kapil Dev

Group 7:

Mustaq Mohammad
Ajit Wadekar
Arthur Shrewsbury
Peter May
Geoff Howarth
Dan Vettori
Len Hutton
Brian Close

Group 8:

Stephen Fleming
Richie Benaud
MS Dhoni
Andrew Strauss
Ian Chappell
Arjuna Ranatunga
Mark Taylor
Bob Simpson

highlited my selections