Virat Kohli and Ricky Ponting with Test Mace. (Photo source : Gettyimages)
Test cricket is still considered the highest level of cricket among all three formats of the sport as it tests players’ technique, temperament, patience, and character. To become an ideal Test player, an extreme level of diligence and determination is required so it becomes crucial for avid cricket fans to not forget the achievements of players who scintillated the longest format of cricket with their extraordinary skills.
In red-ball cricket, captains play a vital role in their teams, to extract desired results in the competitions. Taking up the captaincy mantle and emerging as an excellent Test captain is not everyone’s cup of tea, however, ardent cricket supporters witnessed in the past how some players, as skippers, utilsed their leadership skills and turn their teams into dominating ones in the longest format of the game.
Here are the five most successful Test captains of all time
5. Graeme Smith- 48.62 win%
Graeme Smith (Photo Source : Gettyimages)
From 2003 to 2014, Graeme Smith captained the South Africa cricket team and under his leadership, the Proteas tasted great success in Test cricket. Talking about his leadership in red-ball cricket, the Protea helped his team to dominate Australia, New Zealand, England, and West Indies on their home soil.
In 2007, South Africa toured Pakistan and beat the hosts by 1-0 in a two-match Test series. This was South Africa’s maiden Test series victory on Pakistan soil and in his team’s scintillating performance, Smith led from the front, scoring 246 runs with a century in four innings. At home, Smith made South Africa an indomitable side with his spunky leadership skills.
The southpaw retired from international cricket after appearing in South Africa’s Test match against Australia in 2014 at Newlands. During his 11-year captaincy stint, he led South Africa in 109 Tests, in which he bagged 53 wins for his side with a victory percentage of 46.82.
4. Clive Lloyd- 48.64 win%
Clive Lloyd (Photo Source : Gettyimages)
Clive Lloyd led the West Indies from 1974-85 and during this period, the Caribbean team emerged as the most dangerous side in Test cricket. During his tenure, the West Indies created history by clinching Test series in India, Australia, and England.
In November 1974, the West Indies toured India for a five-match Test series, and for the first time, Lloyd was seen as a full-time captain of the Caribbean side. Leading the team for the first time, he looked confident with his captaincy and batting. Notching up 636 runs in nine innings of five Tests, he steered his side to a 3-2 triumph against the Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi-led Indian team.
At home, the Windies were unbeatable as every side that toured the West Indies during Lloyd’s captaincy period, failed to win any Test series. In overseas conditions as well, the Caribbean team lost only three series in 11 years of Lloyd’s leadership. Talking about his overall numbers as Test captain, the Guyana-born former player won 36 Tests for his team while leading in 74 matches, with a victory percentage of 48.64.
3. Virat Kohli- 58.82 win%
Virat Kohli (Photo Source : Gettyimages)
Under Virat Kohli’s captaincy from 2014-22, the Indian cricket team played quality cricket in Tests. In August 2015, he led the Indian team to their first Test win on the Sri Lankan soil. In a three-match Test series, Kohli and his men vanquished the hosts comfortably by a 2-1 margin.
However, his major challenge was to make India a dominant side in overseas conditions. His notable achievement as a Test skipper came in 2019 when India beat Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2018-19 by 2-1 and registered their maiden Test series triumph in Australia.
At home, India didn’t lose any Test series under his captaincy in eight years. Hosting quality sides such as Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and England, Kohli and his men performed exceptionally and made India a fortress that was impossible for the opponents to breach. In January 2022, the veteran stepped down as Test captain, leaving the sensational figures of 40 wins in 68 Tests as a captain with a win percentage of 58.82.
2. Ricky Ponting- 62.33 win%
Ricky Ponting (Photo Source : Gettyimages)
After Steve Waugh’s retirement in January 2004, Australia’s Test captaincy was handed to Ricky Ponting. Noting Ponting’s success as Australia’s One-Day International (ODI) skipper, he was expected to take the team to new heights in the Test format as well. In April 2006, Ponting showcased his mettle as a Test skipper, powering Australia to clean sweep South Africa in its own backyard in a three-match Test series.
Chalking up 348 runs in six innings, he ended up as the leading run-scorer in his team’s massive success. In the 2006-07 home season, he looked fierce as both captain and batter to help his team hammer England by 5-0 in The Ashes. Racking up 576 runs in eight innings of fives Tests of the distinguished tournament, he ended up as the leading run-scorer and became the recipient of the Player of the Series award.
In January 2011, Australia lost the Ashes 2010-11 to England at home by 1-3 and with this humiliating defeat, Ponting faced a lot of criticism. Following Australia’s elimination from the 2011 World Cup, the Aussie legend relinquished captaincy in March 2011 and decided to continue his role in the team as a batting stalwart. Heading Australia’s Test squad for seven years, he bagged 44 wins in 77 Tests with a phenomenal victory percentage of 62.33.
1. Steve Waugh- 71.92 win%
Steve Waugh (Photo Source : Gettyimages)
Cricket Australia (CA) trusted Steve Waugh to hold the reins of the Australian Test team in February 1999, following Mark Taylor’s retirement from red-ball cricket. As a full-time Test skipper of the Aussie squad, he made his debut in March 1999 in a three-match Test series in the West Indies. In the foreign tour, the team played aggressively against the quality West Indies side and levelled the series by a 2-2 margin.
In the 1999-2000 home season, Australia displayed their dominance in Tests under their dynamic captain, whitewashing Pakistan and India comfortably. Against Pakistan, Waugh struggled to be among the runs but against the Sachin Tendulkar-led side, he delivered decent batting numbers to his team, racking up 276 runs with a century and fifty in five innings of three Tests.
Waugh’s Australia looked sensational from October 1999 to February 2001 and set the world record 16 consecutive Test match victories. In July 2001, Australia toured England for the Ashes series and the biggest challenge for the visitors was to keep England away from the urn. Living upto the expectations, Australia looked dominant over the hosts and clinched the urn with their 4-1 triumph. The Australia batting legend bid adieu to international cricket in January 2004, leaving a scintillating captaincy record of 41 wins in 57 Tests with a win percentage of 71.92%.