5 Cricketers who became unexpected captains

Cricket – As soon as we read this word incarnated from the field of sport, our eyes get lit up experiencing a sense of happiness. The sport which is been played between 22 individuals is opined by millions, if not more. The expectations surrounding those 11 individuals representing the nation reaches the highest echelon on almost every occasion – especially from the player who is leading the team.

Generally known as the ‘captain’ is certainly the most important member of the team who takes some impactful decisions which are felt deep across the layers of the team. A poor process and slim thoughts invite risk and disaster, while a well-considered and inviting process can establish a foundation for progress and success. Unlike other sports, the role of captain becomes even more pivotal and holds more significance than a coach as most decisions on the field are taken instinctively.

Surprisingly, in the last year or two, the cricketing nations around the globe have made some interesting calls for captaincy position which has made the cricket manual to rescript. It has been seen that the national cricket boards have gone with fresh faces or with whom who haven’t featured in the team for long.

With this, CricTracker brings to you five players who became unexpected captains:

1. Tim Paine

Unsurprisingly, first in the list is Australia’s Test captain, Tim Paine. In 2017, he had all but given up hopes of making an international comeback and even contemplating a post-cricket career with sports equipment manufacturer Kookaburra. Then, all of a sudden, destiny played its role and the selectors picked him for the 2017 Ashes against England. He had not played a Test for seven years after a serious finger injury in an ACA All-Stars game put his future in doubt.

In the aftermath of the ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town, Steve Smith and David Warner were stood down, and Paine found himself taking temporary charge in the middle of the Test match. Following Smith and Warner’s one-year bans, Paine was announced as permanent captain, capping one of the most dramatic career turnarounds in recent times.

Interestingly, he has been able to lead the team from the front and made some interesting calls through the Ashes 2019 series against England to help the team retain the urn. His current performance has proved that he has thick skin and has eventually put all criticism to rest.