Nasser Hussain on leadership (part 2)

GH: Are you, like Sven Goran Eriksson, a serious student of psychology? Do you read books about it?
NH: I don't read books but I read quotes and I would read up on people I respect, like Eriksson, how he's handled Beckham, how he's handled troublemakers in his team, other people I respect, the Ballesteros's, the Ollazabals, Tiger Woods, and how they go about their work and business so you can use it for yourself and your own game, and also use it for your team. As captain, you have to prepare yourself and your team.

GH: Who have been the most awkward people you've had to manage, and how did you deal with them?
NH [smiling]: Gough and Caddick are right up there for various reasons. They're two ends of the spectrum... They're not really awkward as such, and I've enjoyed captaining them. I was quite sensible early on. They're key members of the dressing room, especially Darren, he's always someone you want on your side, and I don't know if it was luck or if I thought about it, but in South Africa on my first tour as captain Goughie was going through a lean patch and I always backed him to the hilt in front of the team and publicly, and I think ever since he's had respect for me. As captain you have to be very wary of key people in your dressing room and keep them onside. Having said that, Goughie does do silly things, same with Caddie, so you do have to be careful how many times you back them up.

GH: Is that kind of thing - working out how to handle each individual member of the team - the hardest thing about the job?
NH: No. The hardest thing is that you hardly ever have a complete week at the office. In the old days, when you got a hundred, it was a good day. But many occasions this season I've got a hundred and we've lost. So it's rarely that you're driving home and you're completely satisfied. You've either got nought and you've won and you're pissed off because you've not got any runs, or you've got loads of runs and you've lost and you're pissed off as captain because you've lost. The most difficult thing is that in your youth you used to have lots of good days. Now, there are very few really good days.

GH: So what's the most enjoyable thing?
NH: Winning. My favourite moments are when we've won series... When you're stood on the balcony with a trophy in your hand, and the team is fully behind you, the country is fully behind you... it's a great feeling. Also, when a youngster comes in and does well and he suddenly goes from being Norman Nobody to a star, like Vaughan or Trescothick, Hoggard, they come in and you see them change as a person and they become someone in cricketing terms. I like that.

GH: Are leaders born or made?
NH: Good question... a little bit of both I think. I would say the way you're brought up is the most important thing. I think most people who have had to struggle early on and fight for things are the ones that generally become mentally stronger when they're older. The Graham Thorpes, the Michael Athertons, the ones that had to fight when they were young become the mentally tough ones, and become a leader of men.

GH: When you do step down as captain, what would you like your legacy to be?
NH: Hopefully, that when I've finished, we're a better side than the one I took over. That won't be that difficult, but hopefully people will think I've progressed English cricket in the right direction.