Amongst all forms of cricket, test cricket is considered the oldest and most reputed format. Many cricket experts say that test cricket is the heart of cricket. A captain is considered successful if he captained his team effectively in every format. Especially in test cricket, because a captain has to be tactical and very strategic in test cricket. So, let’s look at the most successful test captains in cricket history.
1. Graeme Smith
Graeme Smith is the best captain South Africa has ever produced, and his stats also prove the same. Under his captaincy, South Africa was the best and unbeaten test team, which remained world no. 1 for many years. Graeme Smith captained South Africa for 11 years in 109 test matches and became the most successful test captain in cricket history. In 109 tests, Graeme Smith won 53 test matches, the most wins by any captain. In his career, Graeme Smith scored 9,265 runs in tests, 6,989 runs in ODIs, and 982 runs in T20 Internationals.
2. Ricky Ponting
Ricky Ponting is unarguably one of the best captains that the world has ever seen. His leadership and captaincy skills were the main reasons behind Australia’s dominance in world cricket. When Ricky Ponting was in his prime, everyone dreamed of beating Australia. He is the most successful captain that Australia has ever produced. From 2004 to 2010, Ricky Ponting captained Australia in 77 test matches, winning 48 matches with a winning percentage of 75. Ricky Ponting played 168 games in his test career, scoring 13,378 runs with an excellent batting average of 51.9.
3. Steve Waugh
Steve Waugh was the first Australian captain to start the dominant era of Australia. Under his captaincy, Australia won their 2nd ODI World Cup, and after that, their dominating era started. Even in test cricket, Australia won many memorable test series under his captaincy. For Australia, he is the second most successful test captain. Steve Waugh was the captain of the Australian team from 1999 to 2004, which he captained in 57 matches. From 57 test matches, Steve Waugh won 41 games as a captain. In his test career of 168 matches, he scored 10,927 runs with a fantastic average of 51.1.
4. Virat Kohli
After the shocking retirement of MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli became India’s full-time test captain. Virat Kohli is a player who relived the joy of test cricket. Under his captaincy, team India always had an aggressive and dominating style. He was the first Asian Captain to win a test series on Australian soil. In test cricket, Virat Kohli has won many memorable series for India, and that’s why he is the most successful Indian test captain. In his captaincy span from 2014 to 2022, Virat Kohli captained India in 68 tests in which he won 40 matches as a captain. So far, in his test career of 113 games, Virat Kohli has scored 8,848 runs with an impeccable average of 49.
5. Clive Lloyd
Clive Lloyd is a former captain and left-handed batsman of the West Indies. Under his captaincy, West Indies won their two ODI World Cup titles. During the 80s, the West Indies were the most dominating team, and all teams used to fear them. Even in test cricket, West Indies had dominated, and Clive Lloyd won many test matches for West Indies. He captained the West Indies from 1974 to 1985. In his captaincy span, Clive Lloyd captained West Indies in 74 test matches in which he won 36 games, and that’s why Clive Lloyd is the best captain that West Indies has ever produced.
6. Allan Border
Allan Border is one of the most reputed Australian cricketers in the world. He was the first skipper to win the World Cup title for Australia. Allan Border was also the first player to reach the milestone of playing more than 150 test matches. Under his captaincy, Australia played 93 test matches, of which Australia won 32. In his test career, Allan Border played 156 games in which he scored 11,174 runs with a fantastic batting average of 50.6.
7. Stephen Fleming
Stephen Fleming is a former left-handed batsman and skipper of New Zealand. He is the best and most successful captain that New Zealand has ever produced. Under his captaincy, New Zealand won their first ICC trophy in 2000. Stephen Fleming has proved himself the best skipper in New Zealand in test cricket. In his captaincy span of 9 years from 1997 to 2006, Stephen Fleming captained New Zealand in 80 matches in which he won 28 matches. In his test career of 111 games, he scored 7,172 runs with a batting average of 40.
8. Viv Richards
Viv Richards is one of the most fearless and influential cricketers that the world has ever seen. In his career, he never wore a helmet to face fats-bowlers, which shows his fearless mindset. Everybody knows that Viv Richards is one of the greatest batsmen the world has ever seen, but only a few people know about his captaincy records. Viv Richards captained West Indies in 50 matches in test cricket, winning 27 games. In his test career, Viv Richards played 121 matches, scoring 8,540 runs with an exceptional batting average of 50.2.
9. MS Dhoni
Even though MS Dhoni is not considered a great test player, he is the second most successful Indian captain in test cricket. Under his captaincy, India became the world no.1 in test cricket and won many test series. From 2008 to 2014, MS Dhoni captained India in 60 test matches, in which India won 27 games with a winning percentage of 60%. In his test career, MS Dhoni played 90 test matches, scoring 4,876 runs with a batting average of 38.1.
10. Joe Root
In modern-day, Joe Root is one of the best batsmen in the world. He has always proved himself as the most consistent and reliable batsman for England. Joe Root is the closest to breaking Sachin’s record of most test runs among all current batters. Even in captaincy, Joe Root has been the most successful captain of England. Under his captaincy, Joe Root captained England in 64 tests, and he won 27 matches as a captain. So far, Joe Root has played 136 tests, scoring 11,447 runs with a fantastic batting average of 50.
