The dominance of the team in test cricket is very determined by how great is his captain who can mould himself into different pressure situations to perform as an individual and as a team player to emerge out as a winning captain. The role of a captaincy in red-ball Cricket is very different from the limited overs cricket. During the difficult times, when the team is going through setbacks the captain choices can make a huge difference in team performances which can change the image of a team in too many ways.
In the long history of test cricket many captains have led his team to great heights and set an example of captain leading from the front. Test cricket remains the ideal test for any cricketer either as a captain or player to define his greatness from the others in the league. Let's take a look at the top five captains with most centuries in test cricket who have performed in the difficult times for their respective sides.
6. Sir Don Bradman:
Although we have other players like Brian Lara, Michael Clarke and Clive Lloyd who have hundreds in red-ball cricket like Don Bradman. But others players are way behind in terms of calibre and cricketing brain the Don Bradman had who was very successful in his choices as a captain for Australia team where they have never lost the test series.
Overall Test Career Stats:
Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | 50s | 100s |
52 | 80 | 6996 | 99.94 | 13 | 29 |
99.94 we know about this Don Bradman average but his average as a captain was 101.52 in 24 tests which featured 14 hundreds and 4 four double hundreds. Many of his records are still under his name or it will be in the future too without any shadow of doubt.
5. Steve Smith:
It will be complete disrespect to not include this modern-day great captain into the column of great captains list. The unorthodox batting genius has the brilliant numbers as a captain for Australia in test cricket from his overall test career runs.
Overall Test Career Stats*:
Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | 50s | 100s |
76 | 137 | 7449 | 62.08 | 30 | 27 |
Although Smith comes four into this list but in the current era of cricket he is the most complete and best captain among his contemporaries of this era. Unlucky, he is not the captain of the current Australia line-up after the sandpaper gate incident in 2018 at Newlands.
Also Read | Virat Kohli Vs Steve Smith
4. Steve Waugh:
One of the most smartest and first-ever captains in Australian cricket history when they were going through the transition phase period and turned the team into the world-beaters before the era of Ricky Ponting. We talked about Ricky Ponting dominance in world cricket like no other captain but we forget the team he was the captain was built up by great Steve Waugh especially in an era when there were more dangerous bowling pairs in cricket history.
Overall Test Career Stats*:
Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | 50s | 100s |
168 | 260 | 10927 | 51.06 | 50 | 32 |
Steve Waugh had a better average as a captain from his overall test average. It was during Steve Waugh captaincy, Australia created the world record of Winning 16 test matches in a row (the most by any captain in history). The streak was ended during the Kolkata Test in 2001 against team India. Steve Waugh has the winning percentage of 72 (the highest among any captains in history).
3. Ricky Ponting:
Nickname Punter. The best version of captain was undoubtedly the former Australian Captain Ricky Ponting. The most aggressive captain who likes to dominate the opposition teams with his whirlwind batting while his interesting decisions as a field captain led his team win games consecutively.
Overall Test Career Stats:
Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | 50s | 100s |
168 | 287 | 13378 | 51.85 | 62 | 41 |
Ricky Ponting has averaged over 50 as captain in 77 test matches (the second most by any player in the history). While in limited overs cricket, Ponting has captained Australia in 324 games and won 220 games including two world Cup finals.
2. Virat Kohli:
Virat Kohli has captained total of 56* Test Matches so far. He already scored 20 centuries till now as captain in Test much faster than all the players in the list.
1. Graeme Smith:
One of the most successful captains in modern-day cricket is definitely the former South Africa Captain and an opening batsman Graeme Smith. South Africa cricket can be defined in two phases – Pre Graeme Smith era and Post Graeme Smith era. Smith was appointed as a captain at the age of 22 after the South Africa another exit from the World Cup 2003 and the famous fixing incident by former South Africa player Hansie Cronje before the world Cup.
Overall Test Career Stats:
Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | 50s | 100s |
117 | 205 | 9265 | 48.76 | 38 | 27 |
Not only has South Africa become the force to reckon with but they have started winning games at home and away under the captaincy of Graeme Smith. He has captained South Africa in 109 test matches and led his team to the victories in 53 test matches (so far it's the highest by any captain in the history to lead a side into the victories).
Also Read | Most Successful Captains In Test Cricket
