Douglas Jardine - How would you rate him as captain?

[stevewittry]

When talking of captains, Most people in this forum would probably think about an Imran Khan or Clive Lloyd or Steve Waugh. But there is also a certain Mr Jardine who was regarded by many as a master strategist and a man ahead of his generation. Someone who out thought the great Sir Donald Bradman and helped bring back the ***** from the Australian soil at a time when Sir was at the peak of his batting prowress. He was also a brilliant batsman. Perhaps would have been deadly in the current generation.

How would you rate him among the greatest all time captains ? Does he reckon a place in this elite list ?

 

[Adil_94]

well its hard for a lot of us to rate him properly considering most wont have seen him in action and rely on accounts of ex players and journalists.

 

[Chrish]

Ruthless

 

[Justcrazy]

Innovative strategist.

 

[Madplayer]

Machiavellian.

For him nothing mattered but results. Ends justifed means.

 

[stevewittry]

At a time when technology was not available, he could spot a weakness in batsman's technique and devise a strategy around it. It was said that in that famous Australian summer of 1932-33, he packed his side with 5 fast bowlers, when conventional wisdom suggested inclusion of spinners. Australian wickets in those times were hard and bouncy and given the weather ball would loose it's shine in the first 5 overs, and reverse swing was not invented then, thus ruling out effectiveness of fast bowlers.

He however trained his fast bowlers to land the ball accurately on specific spot to hit the batsman at a certain height.