Who’s best in battle of the captains?

Clarke edges it tactically, Cook better man-manager as skippers hit 100 Tests

captaincy, as I liked it when Michael Atherton was captain. There’s no “Look at me”, he just does something because he feels it is right. He will use harsh words when he needs to, as he did in Adelaide. And the way Cook brought Pietersen back into the fold was a brave move and the right one.

Clarke is not the most loved Australian captain of all time. He can be showy and the India tour demonstrated that his manmanagement has to be questioned. The team split and he was the captain, so he is responsible. Ricky Ponting said in his book that he had reservations about Clarke’s leadership ability when he first came into the side, that he could be a bit insular and aloof.

That’s okay when you are a player but not as a captain. I had to change when I became England captain because as a player I looked after myself. As a captain you have to look after other people, too. Clarke is lucky that he has got Darren Lehmann, who is brilliant at the off-field stuff. That is why Australia have become a better side, Lehmann is the perfect person to bring a side together off the field.