The test format is the longest and most challenging for the players. Be it batting or bowling, a player must work hard over five days to get the best result. The format tests the mental and physical strength of players. Over the years, test cricket has changed drastically. The rapidly changing world of cricket has also changed the way of playing in the red ball format. Players have become more aggressive and result-oriented in their approach. In this article, we will look at the captains who revolutionised bowling in the test format. Here are the top 10 captains with the most wickets in the longest format.
1. Imran Khan
Imran Khan, the former right-arm fast bowler and more than a handy batter down the order, was born in Lahore in 1952. The all-rounder made his test debut in 1971 against England. He made headlines in 1978 after being declared the third-fastest bowler in the world at Perth. He was given the captaincy in the test format in 1982 and led the team for the next ten years in 48 matches. As captain, the fast bowler took 187 wickets, including 12 five-wicket hauls. His best figures as captain were 8/58, and the player announced his retirement in 1992 after gifting his nation an ODI World Cup.
2. Richie Benaud
Born in New South Wales in 1930, Richie Benaud was a former Australian leg-break bowler. He made his test debut against the West Indies in 1952 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. One of the most influential skippers in Australia was appointed captain in 1958 and led the team in 28 matches until 1963. As a captain, the all-rounder picked up 138 wickets, including nine fifers. His best figures read 9/52, and the player announced retirement in 1964..
3. Garry Sobers
Popularly known as "Sir Garry Sobers," the multitalented bowler was born in Barbados in 1936. A left-handed batter and a versatile left-arm bowler who could bowl medium pace, orthodox spin, and wrist spin to a great extent. He made his test debut against England in 1954 before being given the captaincy role in 1965 against Australia. Sobers scalped 117 wickets as captain of his nation, with a best bowling figure of 6/73. He also took three five-wicket hauls during his captaincy tenure until 1972 before announcing his retirement in the same year.
4. Daniel Vettori
The former left-arm orthodox spinner and handy left-handed batter down the order from New Zealand was born in Auckland in 1979. He made his Test debut against England in 1997. He was one of the key bowlers in the squad across formats. The orthodox bowler led his team in 32 matches from 2007 to 2011. In his matches as captain, he took 116 wickets. His best figure in a test match as captain was 6/28. The Kiwi retired from the longest format in 2014.
5. Kapil Dev
The hero of the 1983 World Cup-winning team, Kapil Dev, was born in 1959 in Chandigarh. The right-arm fast-medium bowler and an impressive batter down the order made his test debut against Pakistan in 1978. He was popularly known as the "Haryana Hurricane." Chosen for the captaincy role in 1983, he led the test team in 34 matches until 1987. As captain, Kapil took 111 wickets in the longest format, including four fifers, and had the best bowling figures of 9/83. The Indian legend retired from Test cricket in 1994.
6. Wasim Akram
The former left-arm fast bowler for Pakistan was born in Lahore in 1966. The bowler was known for his deadly reverse swingers and equally good in-and-out swingers. He made his Test debut against New Zealand in 1985 at Eden Park. He was appointed as the captain in the test format in 1993 and led the team in 25 matches until 1999. As captain, he took 107 wickets, including three five-wicket hauls and the best bowling figure of 6/43. The player announced his retirement in 2002.
7. Bishen Singh Bedi
The left-arm orthodox Indian bowler was born in Amritsar in 1946. He made his Test debut against the West Indies in 1966. The bowler succeeded Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi as captain in 1976 and led his team for the first time against New Zealand. Under his leadership, India chased down the highest 4th inning score of 406 at Port of Spain. As captain, he took 106 test wickets with a best bowling figure of 6/42. He scalped eight fifers during his captaincy tenure and retired from test cricket in 1979.
8. Shaun Pollock
Shaun Pollock was a right-arm medium-fast bowler for South Africa who was born in Port Elizabeth in 1973. He was also a handy batter down the order and made his test debut against England in 1995. He was named the captain in 2000 and led the team in 26 matches until 2003. As captain, he took 103 test wickets with a best bowling figure of 6/30. He had four fifers to his name as captain in the longest format, and the bowler retired from test cricket in 2008.
9. Jason Holder
The bowling all-rounder for the West Indies was born in Barbados in 1991. He is a right-arm medium-fast bowler and a handy batter down the order. The player made his Test debut against New Zealand in 2014. He was appointed as the captain of the longest format in 2015 and led the team in 37 matches until 2020. As captain, he took 100 wickets in test format with a best bowling figure of 6/42.
10. Courtney Walsh
Courtney Walsh was a former right-arm fast bowler for the West Indies who was born in Kingston in 1962. He made his test debut against Australia in 1984 and went on to play 132 test matches. The fast bowler was made the skipper. In 1994 and led the team in 22 matches. As captain, he took 85 test wickets with a best bowling figure of 7/37.
