New Zealand is arguably one of the most competitive cricketing teams globally. The team has grown tremendously on the world stage and has performed extremely well in the ICC events. Their greatest achievement as a team came in 2021 when they won the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC). All these achievements could not have been possible without quality leadership and guidance. Here, in this article, we look at some of the longest-serving Test captains for New Zealand and their records in the most challenging format.
1. Stephen Fleming (80 Matches)
Stephen Fleming, a left-handed top-order batter from Christchurch, is the first to feature on the list. Fleming was the captain of the Test side from 1997 to 2006 and led the team in 80 matches. He is the only New Zealand captain with 50 or more matches as a captain in Test cricket. In a total of 80 matches he captained, the team won 28, lost 27, and drew 25.
2. Kane Williamson (40 Matches)
Kane Williamson, one of New Zealand’s premier batters at present and a fantastic captain, is next to feature on the list. In 2016, Kane took over the captaincy from McCullum and has led the team in 40 Test matches till now. The New Zealand team has won 22, lost ten, and drew eight games under his captaincy with a win percentage of 55, the highest for any Kiwi Test captain.
3. John Reid (34 Matches)
John Reid, New Zealand’s premier all-rounder during the 1950s, is next on the list. Reid played as a right-handed batter and used to bowl right-arm fast medium and sometimes off spin as well. He was also an occasional wicketkeeper and the captain of the Test team from 1956 to 1965 in 34 matches. The team won only three games under his captaincy, losing 18 and drawing 13.
4. Daniel Vettori (32 Matches)
Daniel Vettori, the all-time New Zealand great, is next to feature on the list. Vettori was a left-arm orthodox bowler and a handy lower middle-order batter. He captained the Test side in 32 matches from 2007 to 2011. The team won six, lost 16, and drew ten matches under his leadership.
5. Brendon McCullum(31 Matches)
Brendon McCullum was the captain of the New Zealand Test team from 2013 to 2016. Due to his prolific and astounding batting, McCullum became a vital member of the New Zealand team and was also given the responsibility of leading the team. During his captaincy tenure, New Zealand won 11, lost 11, and drew nine Test matches.
6. Geoff Howarth (30 Matches)
Geoff Howarth is a former right-handed top-order batter from Auckland who made his Test debut in 1975 against England. From 1980 to 1985, Howarth captained New Zealand in 30 Test matches and won 11, lost seven, and drew 12, with a win percentage of 36.66. In 1985, Howarth gave up his captaincy after announcing his retirement.
7. Graham Dowling (19 Matches)
Graham Dowling, a right-handed opening batter from Christchurch, is next to feature on the list. Due to his batting and brilliant fielding, Dowling was an integral part of the New Zealand Test team in the 60s. He also captained the Test team from 1968 to 1972 in 19 matches, winning four, losing seven, and drawing eight.
8. Ken Rutherford (18 Matches)
Ken Rutherford is a former right-handed top-order batter from Otago. Ken made his Test debut against the West Indies in 1985 and then got the opportunity to captain the Test team in 1993. Before retiring in 1995, Ken captained the Test team in 18 matches, winning two, losing 11, and drawing five.
9. Bevan Congdan (17 Matches)
Bevan Congdan, one of the finest New Zealand all-rounders during the 70s, is next on the list. Congdon played his first Test match in 1965 against Pakistan. He played the role of a right-handed batter and a right-arm medium bowler. From 1972 to 1975, he captained the Test side in 17 matches but could win only a single match, losing seven and drawing nine.
10. Martin Crowe (16 Matches)
Martin Crowe, one of New Zealand’s star batters in the 80s, is the next to feature on the list. He played as a right-handed middle-order batter, scoring close to 5,500 runs in 77 Test matches at an average of 45.36. Crowe also got to lead New Zealand in Test matches from 1990 to 1993, in 16 matches. The team, however, won only two games under his captaincy, losing seven and drawing seven.
