'KP could be great captain'
2008-08-12 16:50
London - England captain Kevin Pietersen
has the potential to become a great leader after a dream start
to his new job, according to former skipper Nasser Hussain.
England defeated South Africa in the fourth and final Test
at the Oval on Monday in Pietersen's first match in charge
although they still lost the series 2-1.
"It is a lesson to us all that captains are not necessarily
born, they can be made," Hussain wrote in the September issue of
the Wisden Cricketer magazine.
"Kevin Pietersen might not be the best captain in the world
in the next few months but he can learn to become a great
captain, just as (Michael) Vaughan did. Vaughan got better and
better with each game."
Vaughan, who took over from Hussain in 2003 and led England
to their unforgettable Ashes win over Australia two years later,
resigned after the team lost the third Test against South
Africa.
Hussain said Pietersen needed to establish the same sort of
relationship with coach Peter Moores that he and Vaughan had
with Moores's predecessor Duncan Fletcher.
"It always seemed Vaughan and Fletcher were still close and
certainly closer than Vaughan and Moores. That is
understandable. But now there is a chance for Pietersen and
Moores to create a bond," Hussain said.
"One thing he (Pietersen) will definitely bring is his
absolute professionalism. He pushes himself hard in all aspects
of practice and preparation and, if he can create that
environment for the rest of the team, then he should be
successful."