READ THE DEBATE: What makes a good club cricket captain?

“A good cricket club captain is someone who understands that not everyone has a cover-drive like David Gower or the confidence of Kevin Pietersen, who can encourage and ensure their players’ efforts are valued.”
Mike Yates – via Twitter

“Patience. Thick skin. A politician.”
Paul Bennett – via Twitter

“Alchemy, specifically the ability to turn eight on a Wednesday into 11 on a Saturday is a useful quality for whoever oversees the lowest team at a club. As is the willingness to both put yourself a distant second to the others in the side, but also step up when required.”
Neil Pickup – via Twitter

“I’m no motivator but good on tactics and strategy. My two key points: work hard off the pitch and during the winter to get the best team out you can. On the pitch, act immediately on any hunch.”
Andy Pye – via Twitter

“A bad captain is somebody who is not flexible enough to realise that not everybody is as committed as he is.”
Burnley CC president Michael Brown in The Club Debate

“Turn that on its head: an excellent club cricket captain uses his influence to ensure all teammates are as committed as he or she is.”
Godmanchester Town CC – via Twitter

“Unachievable! Skill is to get the players to commit as much as they are able to.
Michael Brown – via Twitter

Comment of the month:

“There will always be numpties and the punishment should fit the crime, but it doesn’t remotely reflect the thousands who manage to play and officiate cricket each week without any hassles.” John Fuller of Cricket Yorkshire, in response to last month’s allegations over a player head-butting an umpire.

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Of course, most debates take more than a month to settle. The below is in response to the previous club debate on the drop-off of teenage participation in club cricket.

“I am a traditionalist who does not like change, but I am extremely concerned about the game’s long-term viability at club level. However, my mood was uplifted when I read the views of Phil Mist and Simon Prodger. They grasp that without an input of youngsters the game will be dead within 30 years and they are doing their utmost to make their clubs attractive to youngsters. My own feeling is that Sunday cricket should be overs based and given to youngsters up to 25 to play anything between 10 and 25 overs per side on a friendly or small league basis, outside exam time, with the emphasis on fun.”
David Rimmer