A team that dominates the opponents in all departments of the game and likes to play an aggressive brand of cricket. The Australian team has won the World Cup six times including 5 ODI World Cups from 1987 to 2015 and a T20I WC in 2021. The nation holds the record for winning an ODI WC consecutively for three editions from 1999 to 2007. The team won its maiden World Test Championship earlier this year and is a champion now in every format of the game. One fascinating thing about this team has been the quality of its leaders and their commitment to winning big tournaments. They have dominated the longest format of the game and in this article, you will read about the top 10 Australian skippers with most test runs.
1. Allan Border
Born in Sydney in 1955, Allan Border was the most experienced Australian test skipper. With 93 matches as captain, Border remains one of the most influential leaders in the history of the sport. He made his test debut at the MCG in 1978 against the arch-rivals England. Border made a huge 6623 runs as skipper at a staggering average of 50.95. He ended his test career with 11174 runs and 27 centuries overall.
2. Ricky Ponting
Ricky Ponting, famously known as “punter,” was given this nickname by the legend Shane Warne. Born in Tasmania, the former right-handed batter was just too classy and stylish for the bowlers around the world. He made his test debut in 1995 against Sri Lanka. He is the second captain to win consecutive World Cups as captain in 2003 and 2007 after Clive Llyod in 1975 and 1979. As a test captain, he made 6524 runs at an impressive average of 51.51. From 2004 to 2010, he led Australia in the test format in 77 matches.
3. Greg Chappel
Greg Chappel was a former Australian test captain from 1975 to 1983. He made his test debut against England in 1970. The right-handed batter from Adelaide made a century on his debut in an Ashes series under a pressure situation. As a captain, he scored 4209 runs at an unbelievable average of 55.38. He led the team in 48 matches. The former Australian was the head coach of India at the time of the preliminary World Cup exit in 2007.
4. Michael Clark
Born in 1981 in New South Wales, Michale Clarke was a former right-handed batter for Australia. When appointed as the skipper, he led his team to the topmost ranking in test cricket followed by a World Cup trophy in 2015. He made his test debut against India in 2004 in an away tour. As test captain in 47 matches, Clarke scored 3946 runs at an average of 51.92. He led the side from 2011 to 2015 after Ponting stepped down in 2010.
5. Steven Smith
A leg-spinner turned world-class batter; Steve Smith was born in Sydney in 1989. With a debut against Pakistan at the Lord’s in 2010 as a leg spinner whose inclusion was doubted and a captaincy debut in 2014 as a proper top-order batsman, his fortunes changed quite dramatically. He made 3867 runs at an unthinkable average of 66.67 as a captain in 38 matches. Unfortunately, he lost his captaincy due to the ball-tampering charges and was also banned for a year. He continues to be the no.3 ranked test batter.
6. Steve Waugh
Born in Sydney in 1965, the right-handed batter reflected mental toughness and calmness. He induced a winning habit into the team after being appointed as the captain. Under him, the Aussies redefined the red-ball cricket. The leader of the pack in the WC glory in 1999, he was also a fabulous test captain with 3714 runs at an average of 52.31 in 57 matches. He led the Australian test team from 1999 to 2004.
7. Bob Simpson
Bob Simpson was born in New South Wales in 1936. He was a former right-handed batter and a leg-spinner. He made his test debut in 1957 against South Africa. He played his last test match in 1978 against the West Indies. After being appointed as the captain in 1964, he led the team in 39 matches till 1978. He scored 2623 runs at an average of 54.07 as a captain. He ended his career with 4869 runs and ten centuries overall.
8. Mark Taylor
Mark Taylor was born in 1964 in New South Wales. He was a former left-handed batter and one of the finest captains. With Grit, determination, and mental strength, he put his best foot forward as a skipper. He made his test debut vs. the West Indies in 1989 at the SCG and went on to smash 7525 runs and nineteen 100s in his overall test career. As captain, he scored 3250 runs at an average of 39.63 in 50 test matches from 1994 to 1999.
9. Donald Bradman
Sir Don Bradman, the most prolific batsman from Australia was as hard to dismiss as plucking an apple from a mango tree. Born in New South Wales in 1908, he was a former right-handed batter who could bat all day long. Referred to as the “God of Australian cricket,” Sir Bradman played 52 test matches and scored a mammoth 6996 runs at a far-fetched and beyond-belief average of 99.94. As a captain from 1936 to 1948, he played 24 matches and scored 3147 runs at an unimaginable average of 101.52. He is regarded as the best player the cricketing world has ever seen.
10. Ian Chappel
Ian Chappel, the eldest of the Chappel brothers, was a former right-handed batter from Adelaide. Born in 1943, he made his test debut against Pakistan in 1964 at the MCG. He is responsible for starting the practice of sledging. As a skipper, he made 2550 runs at an average of 50.00. He has 30 matches under his belt as the captain from 1971 to 1975. He scored fourteen 100s in his overall test career.
