Today's article is a mock 'job description' for a cricket captain. If you were applying would you get the job?

The details have been supplied by Ryan Maron, Assistant Coach to the Netherlands national cricket team, VRA player coach and Director of Ryan Maron's Cricket School of Excellence in South Africa.

Job title: Club Cricket Captain.

Job Requirements

Practice and pre-match

• Able to attend practice regularly and lead by example.
• Able to attend selection meetings and be confident to have a say in the balance of the side.
• Willing to discuss game plans with coaches and/or senior players.
• Take the time to talk to each player about their role in the team.
• Able to make last minute changes to the team due to injury or other reason.
• Have a number of player contacts to call up due to last minute drop outs. 

During the match

• Prepared to make practical arrangements for players where needed including provision of meals and transportation to matches.
• Able to assess conditions including the pitch, weather and local rules.
• Decide whether to bat or bowl and toss up with opposing captain.
• Analyse strengths and weaknesses of opposition, sometimes on little information.
• Decide a batting order and let everyone know the plan.
• Calculate bowling changes based on conditions and match situation.
• Set the field for each batter in combination with your bowlers.
• Willing to set unusual fields or use unorthodox tactics based on hunches.
• Keen to watch the match, even when not directly involved (i.e. Have just got out).
• Able to encourage fielders and bowlers at all times.
• High levels of concentration on captaincy as well as your own skills.
• Able to keep the game flowing and not let a situation get out of control.
• Calmness under extreme tension.
• Have a 'play to win' attitude, fighting to the last ball. 

Post Match

• Able to listen to and process advice.
• Willing to learn from mistakes.
• Develop a 'thick skin' to criticism and look forward to the next game whatever the result.
• Able to smile and stay positive even in defeat.
• Be a polite and friendly host to the opposition. 

If you are thinking of becoming a captain, consider this 'job description' as a checklist to all you have to do. It's a job you can only learn through experience and you are bound to make mistakes on the way. Sometimes those mistakes will be very obvious too. 

It can be a thankless task sometimes but the benefits outweigh the costs when you get it right.

Remember this is just for fun, don't apply and thanks again to Ryan Maron for contributing the majority of the tips in this article.

Photo credit: ervine_wa

Want to be a better captain? Learn from the best with the interactive online course Cricket Captaincy by Mike Brearley.