How important is a captain? Andrew Hughes tells us why Ponting versus Strauss will be such a fascinating contest this summer

There is no adequate way of quantifying the impact that a captain has on his team. Unless he turns a losing team into a winning one - or vice versa - we have to rely on anecdotal evidence; perhaps picking up on a criticism here, a tactical error there. Not until the end of his career, when all the evidence of biographies and autobiographies is sifted and the abilities of the players he had under his command put into historical context, can we make a reasonable attempt at summing up a captain's worth.

In the absence of statistical truth, we inevitably fall back on theory. The many philosophies of captaincy appear to fall into two camps. Ian Chappell is a leading proponent of the idea that the skipper is of peripheral importance. The Chappell view is that a captain is nothing more than a figurehead, a man to toss a coin and occasionally administer dressing room discipline. Take the Ashes series of 2006-07. If Australia had been led by anyone other than Ricky Ponting, would the result have been any different? It seems unlikely.

The opposing camp could perhaps be represented by Mike Brearley who was so convinced of the importance of captaincy that he wrote a book on the subject. If a captain can't turn no-hopers into world beaters, he can at least get the best out of what he has. Exhibit A is the 2005 Ashes series. It is hard to imagine England being victorious in that series with anyone other than Michael Vaughan at the helm.

But even these two examples show how tricky these judgements are. Although Vaughan was probably a better captain than Ponting, we aren't really comparing like with like. From his appointment in 2004, the little Tasmanian was in charge of a team of all-time greats, of self-reliant cricketers who needed little leading, guidance or motivation. A superb batsman and a dedicated student of batting technique, he was the reformed troublemaker, the willing corporal who found himself promoted to leadership. He wasn't a great captain, but then, he didn't need to be.

It all changed for Ponting in 2005. Under pressure from relentless English swing bowling and feeling the strain off the field, Australia suddenly needed more from their captain. With the bat, he was exemplary. But tactically, he was a failure; alternating between stubbornness and limpness. He made blunders. He lost his composure publicly. Criticism came from all directions and has continued to flare up ever since, despite the 2006-07 success. He has been criticised for being aloof, for allowing his team to get out of control, for failures of tactical and ethical leadership at key moments.

As we approach another Ashes series, Ponting has had to become a different kind of captain. The influx of so many inexperienced players has forced him to take more of a hands-on role. He, in conjunction with his coaches, now micromanages the team to a degree unthinkable in the good old days. And with no Warne or McGrath around to entertain the media, this naturally shy sportsman has had to be a lot more talkative.

It is likely that Ponting will be a lot more exposed this summer than his England counterpart. Andrew Strauss will be relying heavily on Andy Flower's technical expertise. On the face of it, he is a calm and assured presence. Like his predecessors, Vaughan and Nasser Hussain, he is an intelligent and thoughtful cricketer. As captain of Middlesex, he moulded a young and inexperienced group of players into a successful team. The omens are good.

But though he may appear to have many of the qualities required of a captain, Strauss has a great deal more on his plate. Ponting is a battle-hardened leader who is finally starting to look comfortable in his own skin, leading a tough bunch of cricketers, fresh from a gritty victory in South Africa. Strauss by contrast, has all his mistakes ahead of him and his charges are still unproven against the best. Ed Hawkin's article lays out the evidence that points to a tough summer for England and the market agrees. At the moment, Ponting's men are clear favourites to win the series on [1.81] with Strauss's team on [3.35]

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