It's time for another team and to see which are the Top 5 Most Successful Captains of South Africa in this article. Number 1 is no doubt in this list but it will be interesting to see who are the 2-5 numbers in this list because no one has been captain for that long so the readers will get to know about a few leaders they might not have known before. It will be a fascinating article to write for me as well. As always we will give preference to the captains who have led in both Test and ODIs.
Before we get into the list I just want to say that South Africa has had a few great Captains but no one so far has taken them over the finish line so they will be looking for their current captains in red and white ball to take them to World Cup glory. With that being said let’s get into this list and see the Top 5.
Graeme Smith – 53 Test Wins and 92 ODI Wins as captain
There was no doubt as to who will be number 1 on this list and it is none other than the greatest South Africa captain of all time in Graeme Smith who has been one of the best overall captains of all time not just for South Africa. He was captain of South Africa for more than a decade. He was captain of South Africa for 109 Test Matches which is a record by any captain for most test matches as captain. He won 53 out of those Matches. In the 150 ODI he was Captain of South Africa he won 92 ODIs giving him a total of 145 Match Wins as the captain of South Africa.
Shaun Pollock – 14 Test Wins and 60 ODI Wins as captain
At number 2 on this list is one of the best fast bowlers of all time and a great captain for South Africa and he is Shaun Pollock. Shaun Pollock was an attacking captain who loved his Bowlers. He was captain of South Africa for 26 Test Matches and he won 14 out of those Test Matches. In the ODI format he was Captain for 97 ODIs and he won 60 ODIs which gives him 74 Total Match Wins as the captain of South Africa. Truly one of the all time great cricketers.
Faf Du Plessis – 18 Test Wins and 28 ODI Wins
Although he does not have the most total wins to him at number 3 but since he was captain of South Africa in both Test cricket and ODIs he will be at number 3 on this list because being captain of both formats is not easy. Faf Du Plessis was captain of South Africa in 36 Test Matches and he won 18 out of those Test Matches and in ODIs he was captain for 39 ODIs and he won 28 ODIs which gives him a total of 46 Match Wins as South Africa in both formats of the game.
AB De Villiers – 59 ODI Wins as captain
Although he has more match wins than Faf Du Plessis he is at number 4 because Faf was captain in both Test and ODIs. AB De Villiers has been one of the best batters that this game has ever seen and he is a superstar wherever he plays, especially in India. He was captain for South Africa in 103 ODIs and he won 59 Matches giving him a win % of 60.10. He is now retired and the South Africa team feels his absence till now. They don’t make players like AB De Villiers anymore.
Hansie Cronje - 27 Test Wins as captain
The 5th person on this list is Hansie Cronje and he was the captain of South Africa in only year cricket so he comes at the end of this list. He was captain for 53 Test Matches and out of which he won 27 Test Matches giving him a win % of 50.94. He was a great leader but ruined his career by fixing. Still he is the last person on this list.
