The first test of the truncated Indian tour has exposed KP's weaknesses as a captain. On the 4th and 5th days, the England team needed a secure, confident and agile captain. Instead they got a man more worried about his form with the bat than someone able to competently lead the team with well thought through tactics.
Firstly, it was the dithering about in the final session on the 4th day. There seemed to be no impetus to drive the score on and declare leaving a short time left in the day to get in amoungst the Indian batsmen. Instead the English batsmen scored just a few runs and lost easy wickets all of which would have boosted Indian confidence. No guidance on what to do from KP that I could see.
Secondly, there was the way in which we allowed the Indian batsmen to take the game over. Flintoff was the only bowler able to keep them on a tight leash and yet again Anderson decided to have an off day and the first ball from Harmison went wide when it should have been tight and hard to play. All of which sent the Indians a message that put them pyschologically on top. If Vaughan had been in charge, I think it would have been a very different match.
KP is a lieutenant. He's like Flintoff. Give him an order and he'll eagerly take on the challenge and arrive back having completed the job with a grin on his face. Give him a wider tactical remit and he's all puppy-dog eagerness at first but as soon as complex requirements rear their heads he's got his head in the sand and is just hoping that things work out alright rather than continually thinking of how the game can be pulled back to Englands advantage like Vaughan would have done.
2009 is going to be a long and disappointing summer of cricket.
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