The Art of Captaincy?

Saturday's home game against Lindsel was a wash-out. We gave it a half-hearted go for 15 overs but the drizzle was the only winner on the day. So we all retired for an early tea (thanks to JW and family for another superb home baked effort) and beers. Simply can't believe it's August...

When I was made captain a couple of seasons ago I ordered Mike Brearly's excellent book The Art of Captaincy online and read it cover to cover to get some knowledge and inspiration. A week or so before the first game Clint popped by and, very kindly, presented me with another copy - a battered well thumbed 2nd hand edition together with his best wishes (thanks Clint). When my mate Ian Butler pooped down from Birmingham half-way through my first season he bought me a copy as well. Then Will Beagles bought me one when S.T.A.R.T played us in May. That's FOUR copies now - what are people trying to tell me I wonder?

But, and how odd is this, joking aside GCCC Sat XI have won 13 matches during my reign thus far - loads more than in previous seasons. And it looks like we will surpass the number of wins this season compared to last year with much the same players and opposition. Which begs the question, what is Captain Nipples' Art of Captaincy? Well, as it's a bit of a dud week blog-wise what with no game to report, I shall tell you my 'rules'. Feel free to take the piss. Believe it or not I do have a strategy for skippering the team and its kinda routed in my approach to business management and 'leadership'. Comments welcome.

Captain Nipples and his Art of Captaincy

Rule 1. Remember Why We Are Here. Now this can be easy to forget in the heat of the battle but we give up our Saturdays because we love the game so much. It is a very enjoyable thing to do. But this 'thing' is not just about playing. For a lot of our players there is a lot of standing around in the field and sitting around waiting to bat. There is a lot of 'dead time' during a match. Rule 1 is about making this dead time meaningful. Larking about, banter, encouragement, that sort of thing. I try to foster an atmosphere of conviviality before during and after the game. That is why we are here.

Rule 2. Balance the Side. There are good players and less good players, youngsters and oldies, batters and bowlers, fit players and, err Bretty. Although selection is usually limited by who is available I try and get a balanced side and I always try to include one youngster like Robert Halls or Tom Pierson or Harry Rayner - the future of the club. That's my policy. A balanced side means we always have a chance. How many teams have we played who could bat or bowl but not do both? A balanced side doesn't mean our strongest side or our 'best' side. I go for a balanced side every time.

Rule 3. Be Receptive to Help and Advice. Less enlightened skippers might consider un-asked for suggestions or advice or opinion as somehow denting their authority. I don't understand that. There a a lot more experienced and more talented players in the team than me and only a fool would ignore their advice. Ali, Mike, Angus etc all tend to spot things I have missed. Only an idiot would not listen to his lieutenants. Sometimes you have to make a ruling if 4 players have 4 different opinions but Rule 3 is about listening. Listening is actually what leadership is all about. That's one thing in business I know to be true.

Rule 4. Bring Players On. I'm a big fan of changing the batting order, promoting players up the order who rarely get a bat so they can get time at the crease and get used to being there, for changing the bowling attack, etc. It keeps things fresh and it usually works - see how well Gus has batted this season? And instilling confidence in young talented players like Charlie (BGB) and seeing them rise to the challenge is great to see. Give everyone a game but also give them targets to go for. I don't ever want to patronise players by 'giving them a game'. I want it to feel real. To matter.

Rule 5. Conduct Yourself Appropriately. Remember who you are and what you represent. I am very proud of GCCC and for what the club stands for. I don't go for histrionics, I don't sledge or abuse the opposition, I don't sulk or mooch about. Players take their cue from the skipper and behaving like a twat is not on. I'm much more likely to laugh at myself than anyone in the team (apart from Ali, or Panther) - JOKING!

Rule 6. It is not a Sin to Compete. We don't play to win at all costs but neither are we other team's punch bags any more. It's fun to win - to deal with the pressure and overcome our personal demons and to make a contribution - fielding, catching, runs or wickets. Competing the right way is key. It's the hardest part of skippering in my view.

Rule 7. The Players Must Want You to Skipper Them. If they don't wanna play for you or don't enjoy it you are dead in the water. Which is why fostering the right atmosphere and attitude is so important. I can't lead by example with my batting or my fielding. Maybe with the ball sometimes. But that doesn't have to matter if you get the 'important' things right.


And that's it. The tactical stuff on the pitch is a lot easier for me now. If you trust your bowlers and they know you trust them then they will do they best and enjoy it. And the team will field hard for them because they want to. That's true team spirit in my opinion. And I think GCCC Sat XI has the best team spirit of all the teams we play.

Things like setting a leg side field when Paul bowls or making sure Jamie fields in a catching position or that Panther patrols the cover boundary because of his speed, etc you just kind pick up as you go along. It's no big deal. But boy do we play well together. And its great to see.

So there you are the 7 Rules of Captain Nipples. Comments most welcome.

Next Saturday we are away to North Weald who we really should have walloped last year but we let them off the hook and they sneaked a victory. I'll email location of the ground, etc during the week. Let's see if I can put my 7 Rule into practise (7 Rules? honestly what a tosser I am...). But I know what I'm doing..... sort of.

See you on Saturday weather permitting.

Cheers

Nipples