A captain plays a commanding role in a team and has a lot of responsibilities on their shoulders. Australia, one of the strongest teams in cricket, has had some outstanding captains over the years. Australia has produced some of the best captains in cricket history, who have led the team to many great heights with their sheer skill and guidance. The following article looks at some of Australia's best captains in the One-Day International (ODI) format and their achievements.

1.   RICKY PONTING 

Ricky Ponting was a right-handed top-order batter from Tasmania who went on to become Australia's two-time world cup captain and leading run-scorer in international cricket. Ponting captained Australia in ODIs from 2002 to 2012 in 229 matches. The team won 164, lost 51, and tied two games under his captaincy with a significant win percentage of 76.03, the highest for any Australian captain in ODIs.

2. MICHAEL CLARKE

Michael Clarke was a dashing and stylish player and a captain par excellence. Clarke played as a right-handed middle-order batter and was the captain of the One-Day side in 74 matches. Under his leadership, Australia won 50 and lost 21 games, with an impressive win percentage of 70.42. His most outstanding achievements as captain are the 2013-2014 Ashes whitewash by Australia and the 2015 ODI World Cup triumph.

3. STEVE WAUGH 

Steve Waugh, the twin brother of Mark Waugh, is third on the list. Steve Waugh was a right-handed middle-order batter and a right-arm medium-pace bowler. He became the captain of the ODI team in 1997 and captained Australia in 106 matches until 2002. The team won 67, lost 35, tied three, and ended one game with no result during his captaincy tenure.

4. ALLAN BORDER

Allan Border was a left-handed middle-order batter from New South Wales and one of Australia’s most astounding batters in the 80s. In 1985, he took over Australia’s ODI captaincy from Kim Hughes and then captained it in 178 matches until 1994. During his captaincy reign, the team won 107, lost 67, and tied one game for a win percentage of 61.42.

5. GEORGE BAILEY 

Next on the list is George Bailey, a cheerful and lively personality from Tasmania. Bailey played as a right-handed top-order batter and was appointed as the captain of the ODI team for the first time in 2013. He captained Australia in 29 matches, winning 16, losing 10, and three games resulting in no result.

6. MARK TAYLOR 

Mark Taylor is a former left-handed opening batter from New South Wales. Mark debuted in ODIs in 1989 against Sri Lanka in Melbourne. He was handed the captaincy role in 1992 and captained the team in 67 matches until 1997. The team won 36, lost 30, and tied one game under his captaincy reign.

7. AARON FINCH 

Next, we have Australia's current white-ball captain, Aaron Finch, a right-handed opening batter from Victoria. He became Australia’s ODI captain in 2017 after Steve Smith, the then captain, was banned from playing due to his involvement in the ball-tampering case. So far, Finch has captained Australia in 49 ODIs, winning 26 and losing 23, with a win percentage of 53.06.

8. STEVE SMITH 

Eighth on the list, we have Steve Smith, one of the modern-day greats and a prolific batter. Smith started his career as a leg spinner but soon became one of Australia’s most trusted batters and was also given the captaincy role in 2015. He led the team in 51 matches, winning 25, losing 23, and three games ending in no result.

9. KIM HUGHES 

Kim Hughes was a right-handed top-order batter from Western Australia. Kim played his first ODI in 1977 against England at Birmingham. In 1979, he captained the ODI team for the first time and then led it in 49 matches until 1984. The team won 21, lost 23, and tied one game under his leadership.

10. GREG CHAPPELL 

Greg Chappell was a right-handed top-order batter and a part-time right-arm medium-pace bowler from Adelaide. He became Australia’s ODI captain in 1975 and captained the team in 49 matches until 1983. The team won 21, lost 25, and three games ended in no result during his captaincy, for a win percentage of over 45.