Ashes 2021-22: Ian Chappell criticises 'terrible' leader Joe Root

Ashes 2021-22: Australia great Ian Chappell has labelled Joe Root’s captaincy as “terrible”, saying that he fails to inspire his team as a leader and his leadership qualities have been exposed on more than one occasion in the ongoing Ashes 2021-22. Follow Ashes 2021-22 live on InsideSport.IN.

Ashes 2021-22: Ian Chappell says Joe Root’s captaincy ‘opposite definition of excellent leadership’

Root’s decision of batting first in the Brisbane Test after winning that toss was criticised severely as the team went on to lose the Test match by 9 wickets. His team selection, fielding and bowling changes have also been in focus after he decided against playing any specialist spinner in the eleven.

“What is the opposite definition of excellent leadership? There’s a good chance it can be summed up by Joe Root’s captaincy.

“Root is an excellent batter but a poor captain.

“It’s not that Root’s team dislike him – on the contrary – it’s just that he has taken so many poor decisions, they must be thinking, ‘Oh no, not again.’

“He is not an inspirational captain and this is indicated by the number of times his team work their way into a decent position but can’t finish the job,” Chappell wrote in his column for ESPNcricinfo.

The former Australia captain also accused the 30-year-old for repeating the same mistake time and again, adding that he lets the game slip with “negative tactics”.

“This happened again when, where after conceding 425 in Brisbane, England repeated their mistakes in Adelaide to leak 473 for the loss of nine.

“Another sign of Root’s inadequacy was the number of times he put an English fielder in a catching position following an uppish shot going to that area.

“A good captain – as Richie Benaud regularly said – is two overs ahead of the game, otherwise he’s behind in the match.

“A responsible leader has a team of competitors who want to play for their skipper.

“Root had to find a way to be ahead in the Adelaide Test if England were to surge back into the series.

“Unfortunately, they again let the opportunity slip with some questionable bowling and even more negative tactics.

“The dreaded conclusion; “Oh no not again,” is likely to be a regular comment while Root remains in charge.”

In the ongoing pink-ball Test, England leaked 473 runs in the first innings before getting bundled out for 236. On Day 4 of the Test, Australia have given them a mammoth 468-run target to chase and for now the Three Lions are staring at an unavoidable defeat which will see them trail 2-0 in the 5-Test series.

Further, Ian Chappell heaped rich praised on Australia’s 47th Test captain Pat Cummins. The pacer replaced Tim Paine as Australia’s new Test skipper days ahead of the Ashes 2021-22. Cummins won his first game as the captain of the Australian Test team by 9 wickets.

“He is also by far the most inspirational player in the Australia side, and even when he was replaced as captain this week, the team still played hard with thoughts of his reputation in mind. Cummins acquired the appropriate nickname Postman Pat before he was appointed captain. He is accorded this handle because he regularly delivers, often providing Australia with a wicket when it’s needed,” Chappell wrote.

“There is a lot to like about Cummins’ appointment, and he certainly delivered in his first captaincy Test with a five-wicket innings haul at the Gabba. Will Cummins have days where it doesn’t all go exactly to plan? Too right – that is the life of a captain, and of any leader anywhere in the world. However, Cummins will improve as a captain because that is what good leaders do: they learn from their mistakes and try to avoid making them in the future,” he added.

“Cummins will become a really strong leader and elicit excellent assistance because he’s well respected. Eventually, he will be ranked as a good leader for all occasions. A lot of that will be based on his calmness and common-sense thinking,” said Chappell.

Pat Cummins is currently not a part ongoing second Ashes Test in Adelaide as he was deemed as a close contact of a person who tested positive for Covid-19.

Ashes 2021-22: Ian Chappell says Joe Root’s captaincy ‘opposite definition of excellent leadership’

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