Warne: KP or Swann should be captain

Former Australia spinner, and current opinion machine, Shane Warne feels Kevin Pietersen of Graeme Swann would be a good choice for England captain as they both have shown more flair than current skipper Alastair Cook.
Former Australia spinner, and current opinion machine, Shane Warne feels Kevin Pietersen of Graeme Swann would be a good choice for England captain as they both have shown more flair than current skipper Alastair Cook.
Warne has not been shy about criticising Cook's tactics, especially during the Ashes in England, calling the Essex man boring and unimaginative, as well as one to use negative tactics. Instead, he feels his friend Pietersen could be given another go at leadership.
Warne wrote in the <i>Daily Telegraph</i>: "That may sound like an unbelievable thing to say after all the controversy of last year but I think KP has the best cricket brain in the team. Graeme Swann is good too, as we have seen from his Twenty20 captaincy of England.
"They are both imaginative, good readers of the game and take the aggressive option first, whereas Cook retreats too quickly. He goes very defensive when he should be stamping his authority on the match.
"The tour to Australia will be a good gauge as to where Cook's captaincy is right now. Remember the Kookaburra ball goes soft after the first 30-35 overs. It is then down to tactics.
"England won the Ashes in 2005 because Michael Vaughan was imaginative and proactive. He came up with different fields, attacked with the bat and challenged the opposition batsmen all the time. England will not reach that standard until they change their style of play."
Warne recognised that this stance would not be overly popular, given Cook's excellent record since taking over from Andrew Strauss last year, but the spinner insisted a successful skipper need more imagination than Cook had.
He continued: "You might say what rubbish as it is all about winning. People have rightly pointed out Cook has won the Ashes and beaten India in India during the first year of his captaincy.
"That is a pretty good record. But my point is that if you want to be the best team in the world, which England aspire to be, then you have to have more aggression from the leader.
"I played for 15 years in one of the best teams of all time, winning in all conditions against all opposition. We had some great players, sure, but we also needed a good captain with imagination."
Latest
-
News
I don’t like the word defending – Jos Buttler wants England to attack
Buttler was part of the side that won the 2019 World Cup.
-
News
Majid Haq shocked by ‘paltry’ fine handed to official who racially abused him
Ronald McGregor has been fined £400 and ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge.
-
News
Ben Stokes doubtful for England World Cup opener with hip injury
Stokes has not played since smashing 182 against the Black Caps on September 13
-
England
Reece Topley ‘undercooked’ as England prepare for World Cup opener
The seamer and his team-mates have seen limited action since arriving in India ahead of their first clash against New Zealand on Thursday.
-
England
A look at changing nature of international calendar ahead of Cricket World Cup
England have played fewer ODIs heading into this tournament than for any World Cup in almost 30 years.
-
England
England complete World Cup preparations with rain-affected win over Bangladesh
England start the defence of their World Cup trophy against New Zealand on Thursday.
-
England
Jos Buttler will let England’s white-ball legacy be decided by others
Eight members from the class of 2019 are in England’s 15-strong squad for the defence of their 50-over crown in India, which starts this week.
-
News
5 players to watch at the Cricket World Cup in India
England take on New Zealand in Thursday’s tournament opener.
-
England
Can England defend their crown? – World Cup talking points
The tournament takes place in India.
-
County Cricket
Middlesex relegated from Division One as Kent survive on dramatic final day
Middlesex fell just short of the victory they needed at Nottinghamshire to stay up instead of Kent.