Captains with best away record in Test cricket

The hardest job in cricket is being the captain of a nation’s Test team, which is considered the highest honour. Even the greatest cricketers, like Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara, struggled to succeed under the tremendous strain of captaining their Test squad. However, some players also improve their own game. Here are three exceptional Test Captains who boast the best away record in Test Cricket.

3. Ricky Ponting 

Former Australian skipper, Ricky Ponting ends on number three on this list with 36 Test matches captained away from home. Of these 36, Punter managed to win 18 games while he lost 10, and 8 ended as draws. In his maiden Test series as captain, Ponting humiliated Sri Lanka 3-0. What came next was another period in which Australia dominated international cricket. Ponting’s captaincy career, which, however, ended with a home series loss to England in 2010–11, was punctuated by resounding performances at home, series victories in Bangladesh, West Indies, New Zealand (twice), South Africa (twice), and West Indies.

2. Graeme Smith 

Former South Africa skipper Graeme Smith is the next skipper on the list with 52 matches captained away from home. Of those, he won 22 and lost 13 while 17 games were drawn. On his first mission in Bangladesh, he led the team admirably and brought back a 2-0 victory. Two years later, West Indies hosted the following significant away series victory. The Proteas then won series in Pakistan, Bangladesh, England (twice), Australia (twice), West Indies, and New Zealand. Under the guidance of Graeme Smith, the Proteas won a total of 23 matches away from home in all areas of the world. They held the Test Mace in 2013, 2014, and 2015 for three years in a row.

1. Clive Lloyd 

Former West Indies skipper Clive Lloyd captained the side in 50 Test matches away from home. He won 23 of those games while losing 10, and 17 finished as draws.  He enjoys the most away victories in the longest format of the game as captain. Clive Lloyd led West Indies to the 1975 and 1979 World Cup victories. India was defeated by West Indies in India in Lloyd’s maiden series in charge. The team won series in England (three times), Australia (twice), Pakistan, and India during his leadership. Under Lloyd, the West Indies dominated the world for a time.