Most Wins By A Captain In Test Cricket
Published - 16 Jan 2022, 07:09 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:03 AM
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Virat Kohli stepped down as India’s Test captain after losing the Test series against South Africa. This is one of the biggest events in Test cricket in recent times, purely because it concerns Kohli and the Indian cricket team. He voluntarily stepped down as India’s T20I skipper. He also relinquished RCB captaincy. However, the way he was asked to step down India’s ODI captain surely leaves many questions to be asked.
Kohli ended his career with 40 wins out of 68 games, 17 losses and 11 draws. This makes him the greatest Indian Test captain. Under him, India won their first-ever series Down Under when they defeated Australia 2-1 in the 2018-19 Border Gavaskar Trophy. In addition, he guided the side to the verge of clinching the Test series in England in 2021. They currently lead 2-1 with the final game scheduled for June later this year.
Meanwhile, in this article, we will take a look at the most successful Test captains who have taken Test cricket to a whole new level.
Most Wins By A Captain In Test Cricket
Graeme Smith- 53 Wins
Smith was assigned the captaincy job at the young age of 22 for South Africa. He currently holds the record for most wins as captain in Test cricket. In 109 matches, he has won 53 Tests while losing 28 games and drawing 27 games. He is also the only test captain to play in excess of 100 test matches. (109 – 108 as captain for South Africa, and 1 for ICC). He had a winning percentage of 48.62.
*Stats updated till January 16, 2022.
Also Read: IND vs SA: Ali Bacher Gives His Verdict On Rishabh Pant And Ravichandran Ashwin’s Performance
Ricky Ponting-48 Wins
Ponting led the Australian cricket team in its golden era. Between 2003 and 2007, Australia were almost unbeatable at home and dominated every touring team who visited the nation. He led the Australian team 77 times in Test cricket and won 48 games while losing just 16 games. He drew 13 matches and had a winning percentage of 62.33.
The Australian side topped the ICC Test rankings several times during his captaincy tenure. Ponting was the captain of the side between 2004-2010.
*Stats updated till January 16, 2022.
Steve Waugh- 41 Wins
Waugh led the Australian team prior to Ponting. Under Waugh and Ponting’s leadership, Australia won everywhere and also bagged three back to back ICC World Cup titles (1999, 2003, 2007).
The transition from Waugh to Ponting was a smooth one with the side maintaining their domination over oppositions. Steve Waugh led the Aussies in 57 matches and won 41 of them. He has a winning percentage of 71.92 between 1999-2004.
*Stats updated till January 16, 2022.
Virat Kohli-40 Wins
Kohli led India between 2014-2022 and did a masterful job at that. During his period they won 14 back to back Test series at home. Kohli’s most crucial contribution as Test captain was preparing a team that can win overseas. He also made a particular effort on making the Indian team have a dependable pace attack as well.
India always had the luxury of four to five pacers during his captaincy tenure and this remains his most important gift to Indian cricket. Kohli assumed captaincy with India being seven on ICC Test rankings and he leaves with India being the number one ranked Test team. He ended with a winning percentage of 58.82, the best among all Indian Test captains.
*Stats updated till January 16, 2022.
Also Read: I’m Not Surprised At All – Sunil Gavaskar On Virat Kohli’s Decision To Quit Test Captaincy
Clive Lloyd-36 Wins
The former West Indian skipper is the last name in this elite list. He led the Windies between 1974-1985 in 74 games and won 36 of them while losing just 12 and drawing 26 matches. He ended his tenure with a winning percentage of 48.64. Llyod is still regarded as one of the best captains of not only West Indies but world cricket.
*Stats updated till January 16, 2022.
