Top 10 Cricketers With Most Test Matches As Captain

October 23, 2021 By Sourav

In cricket, like in all team sports, the captain of a team plays a very important role. He is the man who leads the other players from the front and takes major decisions. From making strategies to taking major decisions like who should open, or if the team should bat or field after a toss – a captain has the final say in all this. Let us take a look at the Top 10 Cricketers With Most Test Matches As Captain.

Cricketers With Most Test Matches As Captain | 2021 Updates

Apart from being the decision-maker of the team, he also has to ensure that he himself contributes to the team as a cricket player, because otherwise, a person who only captains or advises the team and makes no contribution to his performances, becomes nothing but a burden to the team. For instance, one of the most successful captains of the Indian cricket team, Md. Azharuddin was unable to retain his position in the team due to his continuous poor performances as a captain.

10. Hansie Cronje

Former South African cricket player Hansie Cronje captained the South African national cricket team in 53 international test matches in his active international cricket career between 1994 and 2000.

He won a total of 27 test matches as the captain of the team while losing just 11 international test matches, and is inducted in the tenth place in our list of top 10 cricketers with the most test matches as captain.

Hansie Cronje achieved a win-loss ratio of 2.45 during his career as the captain of the South African cricket team and has faced just 15 draws with opponents in his career.

Hansie Cronje achieved an international test match winning percentage of 50.94 and on the other hand, was defeated in 20.75% of the international test matches he ever played as the captain of the national team in his active cricketing career. Irrespective of his achievements, the world still knows him for his involvement in one of the biggest match-fixing scandals in cricket history.

9. Mike Atherton

English cricket player Mike Atherton captained the England national cricket team in 54 international test matches in his active international cricket career between 1993 and 2001.

He won a total of 13 test matches as the captain of the team while losing just 21 international test matches, and is inducted in the ninth place in our list of top 10 cricketers with the most test matches as captain.

Mike Atherton achieved a win-loss ratio of 0.61 during his career as the captain of the England cricket team and has faced just 20 draws with opponents in his career.

Mike Atherton achieved an international test match winning percentage of 24.07 and on the other hand, was defeated in 38.88% of the international test matches he ever played as the captain of the national team in his active cricketing career.

8. Arjuna Ranatunga

Sri Lankan cricket player Arjuna Ranatunga captained the Sri Lankan national cricket team in 56 international test matches in his active international cricket career between 1989 and 1999.

He won a total of 12 test matches as the captain of the team while losing just 19 international test matches, and is inducted in the eighth place in our list of top 10 cricketers with the most test matches as captain.

Arjuna Ranatunga achieved a win-loss ratio of 0.63 during his career as the captain of the Sri Lankan cricket team and has faced just 25 draws with opponents in his career.

Arjuna Ranatunga achieved an international test match winning percentage of 21.42 and on the other hand, was defeated in 33.92% of the international test matches he ever played as the captain of the national team in his active cricketing career.

7. Steve Waugh

Australian cricket player Steve Waugh captained the Australian national cricket team in 57 international test matches in his active international cricket career between 1999 and 2004.

He won a total of 41 test matches as the captain of the team while losing just 9 international test matches, and is inducted in the seventh place in our list of top 10 cricketers with the most test matches as captain.

Steve Waugh achieved a win-loss ratio of 4.55 during his career as the captain of the Australian cricket team and has faced just 7 draws with opponents in his career.

Steve Waugh achieved an international test match winning percentage of 71.92 and on the other hand, was defeated in 15.78% of the international test matches he ever played as the captain of the national team in his active cricketing career.

6. Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Superior Indian cricket player Mahendra Singh Dhoni captained the Indian national cricket team in 60 international test matches in his active international cricket career between 2008 and 2014.

He won a total of 27 test matches as the captain of the team while losing just 18 international test matches, and is inducted in the sixth place in our list of top 10 cricketers with the most test matches as captain.

One of the most successful cricket captains, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, achieved a win-loss ratio of 1.50 during his career as the captain of the Indian cricket team and has faced just 15 draws with opponents in his career.

MS Dhoni achieved an international test match winning percentage of 45.00 and on the other hand, was defeated in 30.00% of the international test matches he ever played as the captain of the national team in his active cricketing career.

5. Clive Lloyd

Legendary West Indian cricket player Clive Lloyd captained the West Indian national cricket team in 74 international test matches. He did that in his active international cricket career between 1974 and 1985.

Lloyd won a total of 36 test matches as the captain of the team. He also lost 12 international test matches. And now, he holds the fifth place in our list of top 10 cricketers with the most test matches as captain.

Clive Lloyd achieved a win-loss ratio of 3.00 during his career as the captain of the West Indian cricket team. He has faced just 26 draws with opponents in his career. Clive Lloyd achieved an international test match winning percentage of 48.64.

Besides, he faced just 16.21% defeats in the international test matches he ever played as the captain.

4. Ricky Ponting

Australian cricket player Ricky Ponting captained the Australian national cricket team in 77 international test matches. And, he did that in his active international cricket career between 2004 and 2010.

He won a total of 48 test matches as the captain of the team. Besides, he lost just 16 international test matches. And now, he holds the fourth place in our list of top 10 cricketers with the most test matches as captain.

One of the greatest cricketers of all time, Ricky Ponting, achieved a win-loss ratio of 3.00 during his career. Besides, he faced just 13 draws as the captain of the Australian cricket team.

Ricky Ponting achieved an international test match winning percentage of 62.33. And, he faced 20.77% defeats in the international test matches he ever played as the captain.

3. Stephen Fleming

New Zealand’s cricket player Stephen Fleming captained the New Zealand national cricket team in 80 international test matches. He did that in his active international cricket career between 1997 and 2006.

He won a total of 28 test matches as the captain of the team while losing just 27 test matches. Besides, he now holds the third place in our list of top 10 cricketers with the most test matches as captain.

Stephen Fleming achieved a win-loss ratio of 1.03 during his career as the captain of New Zealand. He faced just 25 draws with opponents in his career.

Stephen Fleming achieved an international test match winning percentage of 35.00. And, he faced defeats in 33.75% of the international test matches he ever played as the captain.

2. Allan Border

Australian cricket player Allan Border captained the Australian national cricket team in 93 international test matches. And, he did that in his active international cricket career between 1984 and 1994.

He won a total of 32 test matches as the captain of the team while losing just 22 matches. And now, he holds the second place in our list of top 10 cricketers with the most test matches as captain.

Allan Border achieved a win-loss ratio of 1.45 during his career as the captain of the Australian cricket team. Besides, he has faced just 38 draws with opponents in his career.

Allan Border achieved an international test match winning percentage of 34.40. And, he faced defeat in 23.65 of the international test matches he ever played as the captain.

1. Graeme Smith

South African cricket player Graeme Smith captained the South African national cricket team in 109 international test matches. And, he did that in his active international cricket career between 2003 and 2014.

He won a total of 53 test matches as the captain of the team. He also lost just 29 international test matches. Besides, he now holds the top place in our list of top 10 cricketers with most test matches as captain.

Graeme Smith achieved a win-loss ratio of 1.82 during his career as the captain of the South African cricket team. And, he has faced just 27 draws with opponents in his career.

Graeme Smith achieved an international test match winning percentage of 48.62. And on the other hand, he faced defeats in 26.60% of the test matches he ever played as the captain.

Conclusion

When a team performs well, the captain receives appreciation along with the rest of the team. But, when a team fails, it is the captain who is mainly blamed. The pressure is high, and captaincy is not the cup of tea for all players. Even the best of them reel under tremendous tension. Sachin Tendulkar, one of the greatest batsmen of all time, was unable to cope up with the stress of his short stint as a captain and gave it up. It takes a great deal more than expertise as a cricketer to face the expectations of the entire nation.