Bailey says White 'improved as leader' since getting stripped of Oz T20 captaincy

Sydney, Sep 19: Australia Twenty20 captain George Bailey has claimed his predecessor Cameron White’s leadership skills have improved since he was relieved of his captaincy duties.

Not many had expected when Bailey replaced White as captain in January that the Victorian would be back for the World Twenty20, so dreadful was White''s form.

However, when someone had to be shown the door from the side to accommodate the rising talent of young all rounder Glenn Maxwell, White was chosen ahead of his close friend David Hussey.

“It''s a tough call but we certainly feel Whitey is in really good touch at the moment and certainly his last six months his record is as good as anyone''s in the world,” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Bailey, as saying.

“He is also a great fielder and a great thinker on the field for us. I really see some confidence in ''Whitey'' and I think probably not being captain has allowed him to flourish, as silly as it sounds, as a leader,” he added.

“I think he is a lot more comfortable to be himself and come out and talk to guys, and he''s certainly been a big help to me on the field, knowing that (Shane Watson) as vice-captain has a hell of a role to play as a player and tends to be very busy throughout the whole game,” he said.