Hooper v Ganguly -- The Captaincy Burden

After every series India play, the position of captain Sourav Ganguly seems to be the focus of debate. Despite triumphs in home Test series against Australia, England and Zimbabwe, the outspoken Indian skipper is under constant pressure.

Performances in one-day cricket have been less impressive and the recent struggle to beat Zimbabwe in that form of the game highlighted Ganguly's role once more. Despite that, the Indian board has stuck with him for the tour of the West Indies...

By contrast, Carl Hooper has received an easier time from the Caribbean media, if not necessarily the public.

Since assuming the West Indies captaincy against South Africa last year, Hooper has seen his side lose seven Test matches out 12, winning just two.

Lack of quality


In the one-day arena, their form has been a little better with a win in last July's tri-series final in Zimbabwe against the choking Indians a highlight.

However, Hooper's record is still in the negative and when three victories against Kenya are taken away from the 11 achieved overall, it becomes less impressive.

As everybody in the Caribbean is painfully aware, the talent cupboard is somewhat bare at the moment and that applies just as much to possible captains as it does dashing batsmen or tyro pacemen.

The average age of the West Indian batting line-up during their last Test against Pakistan was just 23, and that didn't even include the likes of Ramnaresh Sarwan (21) and new hope Devon Smith (20).

Apart from Hooper, the only other current West Indian batsman over 30 is Brian Lara, although the training squad for the Indian series does include a revitalised Stuart Williams.

Reluctant to change


Although Williams is the current captain of the Leeward Islands, it is not certain he will be given the chance to pick up the threads of a Test career which has brought him 1,092 runs in 28 games at an average of less than 25, let alone take over in charge of the team.

Lara found his stint as captain shattering and is unlikely to take it on again, whilst the next most senior batsman, Shiv Chanderpaul, is likely to be thought too undemonstrative for the top job.

It is therefore understandable that the West Indies Board is reluctant to make a change at the present time.

Hooper's own personal form has also demonstrated a new found resolve partly attributed to a personal epiphany that followed his son's recovery from serious illness.

Since returning from retirement to take on the captaincy, Hooper has averaged over 40 in Tests, striking eight half centuries and one hundred in 12 matches. This compares with a career average of just 35, a lamentable return on his talent.

Ganguly, however, is currently struggling to maintain his own record with the bat.

His Test average before becoming captain hovered around 45, but he is now struggling to keep it over 40.

In 18 Tests as skipper, Ganguly has averaged just 32, but a century in their last Test against Zimbabwe will have gone some way to restoring his confidence.

India also lack obvious candidates for the captaincy with their star man Sachin Tendulkar burnt byprevious experience in the same way as Lara.

However, competition comes from leg-spinner Anil Kumble who, despite a dodgy recent fitness record, impressed many judges with his leadership in the third one-day international against England in February.

Ganguly freely admits this is a good chance for India to record their first series win away from home in 16 years.

If he fails then Kumble could well receive a more permanent opportunity.

* SOURCE: BBC Sports Online.