i see similarities in clarke and mahela though mahela was less privileged with resources and lots of test matches to go with. most of the good captains showed authority in the field and tried to control the game or at least his team. compared to clarke cook was very backward and did not show any aggression. today commentators mentioned at least he has to show some anger in his batting. looks to be our matthews also a bit of a backward sort of guy. in the recent test match with Pak, he could have taken the risk of attempting to score bit quicker in the latter part of 4th day and declare early. even if we lose the match it will be good for the team in their learning curve. even in ODIs we should ve taken more risks and tried some experimenting thinking of the WC.
other good thing Au had was darren lehmann as the coach. i think one reason our team failing in finals is the coach, because most of the recent coaches seemed to have lacked that fun carefree guy in them. administration didnt help either in providing long term planning and support.
another good thing for a team to perform well is not to have selfishness for individual goals but to go for team goals. Clarke was bold enough to take decisions based on the match situations but not for individuals to achieve their milestones. in last indian tour he declared where he could try to break a world record. this ashes tour he declared in adelaide so warner missed a century.
I don't think the reason for our inability to win a finals is the coach..In pressure situations Our seniors should stand up and perform..But quite frankly they crumbled under pressure..Specially when chasing..I don't remember Sanga complete a chase apart from last ICC champions trophy match against Eng.although Mahela made a breathtakingly brilliant flawless century in 2011WC final and 2007 WC semi final,He also did'nt have the ability of completing a chase..Dohni can do it every day and Arjuna,Aravinda(Especially after 96)did it well in their days..Chases of CB series 3rd final and ICCWT20 in 2012 are very few examples..Even though SL seniors are very talented I think they are not tempered and cold worked like Arjuna,Aravinda,Hashan and Jayasuriya..And I don't think Mahela,Sanga..etc are big match players like Aravinda and Jayasuriya especially in short forms..
Clerk is a gambler who takes remarkable decisions to win a game..In the first Test series(Against SL in SL 2012) he captained I thought he's only a big mouth Aussie.But when he toured WI he won a test destined to a draw by declaring behind in the last day.He said Shane Warnes 4th day thoughts about the remarkable Adilade test of 2006 Ashes inspired his decisions..Warne is the best captain Aus never had..And his gambling instincts are quite visible in Clerks thought process..Then as you said he declare when he was 329 not out in the Sydney test against India..and played wonderful innings in Capetown against SA and loosing after all out for 47 he said felt like his innings of 151 was a waste of time..
in recent IND tour he declared first innings 230/9 to bowl last two overs in the first day to indian opening batsmen as tailender runs are not important than first order wickets..In the last ENG Ashes test in Oval he declare in the last day just before tea to obtain a sole win.I dying moments of the test I saw the desperate clerk for drawing a test..For Only time..
He and Lehman picked Mitchel Johnson for home ashes series amid of large criticisms.He led their fast bowling battery wonderful well and used Lyon and Watson effectively..when there are bowlers i think It is also tough to captain a side as you are up against it and every one expected you to deliver..He did that marvelously..and devastated Eng.Now England is the poor old England..by spending Last six weeks They went 15 years back..I don't think they will be a test superpower atleast for another 5 years..I think he is the best test captain after Ian Chappelle and Imran Khan..
If Sri Lanka want to compete in the Ultimate version of the game,Test Cricket,they should build a bowling attack who could take 20 wickets..
Containment bowlers have nothing to do with test cricket.All Sri lankan budding spinners can't spin the ball.They don't have a stock ball.They don't have patient.Enough said,As they don't have a stock ball so what they bowl to build up the patient?Except for Eranga there's no slight shining lite in the end of the tunnel for Sri Lankan fast bowlers. SL cricket should invest vastly in School cricket as it is the only talent provider to the sport..
Test teams are built around a good bowling attack.SL don't have that...
SL is gutsy cricket team with a gutsy captain.But if they don'd breed good test bowlers Test cricket will die soon in SL.
Mahela was a good captain but he had Murali..Murali is equal to 2.5 test bowlers..He was brilliant captain..His captaincy qualities superior than Sanga or Dhoni but not gutsy and better than ARJUNA..
That is my opinion..
Bowlers win Test matches..Batsman can only draw them..
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