IPL 2021: Simon Doull claims David Warner to be more of a ‘Leader’ rather than a ‘Captain’

IPL 2021: Simon Doull claims David Warner to be more of a ‘Leader’ rather than a ‘Captain’

David Warner

Kane Williamson will take over the captaincy from David Warner as reported by the management of Sunrisers Hyderabad earlier on Saturday. Experts speculated that the decision was motivated by the team’s last-place position in the IPL 2021 points table after nearly half of the season.

Now, commentator and former cricketer Simon Doull has commented on Kane Williamson’s promotion to captain that he never thought David Warner was as tactically astute as Williamson. David Warner was more of a ‘leader’ than a captain. He further went onto explain that Warner loves to take a fight and lead from the front. On the other hand, Kane Williamson was more of a fielding captain guiding the bowlers and fielders.

“I never thought David Warner was a tactically superb captain. David Warner was a leader. He was a guy who would be first across the line out there, take the fight to any team, score runs, and leads from the front. And what you saw with David Warner in most years was he would field at long-on and long-off and Kane Williamson would be standing near the bowlers. And Kane would be exchanging advice, talking about the tactics with him. So, David Warner, as a captain, I don’t think was great but he’s an absolute leader,” said Simon Doull on Star Sports.

David Warner is not only SRH’s all-time leading scorer, but he has also guided the team to their first IPL championship in 2016 and several qualifier appearances. Warner was the top run-scorer in the IPL 2015, IPL 2017, and IPL 2019 and was awarded the orange cap.

Simon Doull speculates a fall-out with management for David Warner

David Warner and Kane Williamson
David Warner and Kane Williamson

Warner had a fall out with the team’s management, according to Doull. The fiasco may be traced back to David Warner’s post-match speech, in which he termed the selectors’ decision to drop Pandey ‘harsh.’

“I think there must have been a falling out somewhere along the lines and not with the team, there has to be a falling out with the coaching structure. After what he said in that game about leaving Manish Pandey out, it was not his decision at all, he didn’t want to do it. And basically, you passed the buck, you blamed it on someone else and I think he has paid the price for that,” added Simon Doull.

Simon Doull was also skeptical of SRH’s shifting coaching dynamic. He noted that the alliance between Trevor Bayliss, the head coach, and Tom Moody, the director of cricket, is odd.

“That dynamic… you sack a coach, Tom Moody, you employ Trevor Bayliss and then you bring Tom Moody back to oversee your cricket. I don’t know how that relationship can work. And I wonder whether one in 5 is the direct result of that relationship not working… And the press release suggests that David Warner won’t even play now that’s even more strange!” Simon Doull concluded.

Sunrisers Hyderabad are currently playing Rajasthan Royals at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad with David Warner being dropped for Nabi.

Also Read: IPL 2021: Rassie van der Dussen not to join Rajasthan Royals due to NOC issue