Rating The Top 10 Greatest Captains In The History Of Test Cricket

Test cricket is the longest form of cricket and the one with altogether a different format. Things like no limit on the number of overs, two innings for each time, and five days of play make Test cricket a totally diverse format than ODIs and T20Is. Winning a Test match requires a lot of hard work. Players have to toil hard for 4 innings and sweat for 5 days to bag victory in Test matches.

Even for captains, winning a Test match is a complicated task and they have to guide the players in 4 innings and ensure to motivate everyone throughout the match. There are some Test captains who have done a great job while leading their teams.

These Test captains brought many Test victories for their teams and tasted success in leadership. In this listicle, we take a glance at the top 10 greatest captains in the history of Test cricket and rate them according to their performances as Test skippers.

Rating The Top 10 Greatest Captains In The History Of Test Cricket

10. MS Dhoni (India)- 6/10

MS Dhoni gets the 10th spot in this list with a rating of 6 out of 10. The former Indian captain is unarguably the best skipper for the Indian team so far, who bagged all the major ICC titles for the team. He led the Test side from 2008 to 2014. The wicketkeeper-batsman took the Indian team to the top spot in ICC’s Test team rankings during his tenure.

In Test cricket, the right-handed batsman led India in 60 matches. He won 27 matches and lost 18 matches under his captainship, while 15 games ended in a draw. Dhoni has a win percentage of 45 and a loss percentage of 30.

9. Michael Vaughan (England)- 6.5/10

Former England cricketer Michael Vaughan takes the 9th spot in this list with a rating of 6.5. The right-handed batsman led England in Test cricket from 2003 to 2008. The former English all-rounder led the team in 51 Tests.

He won 26 games and lost 11, while 14 ended in a draw. Vaughan has a win percentage of 50.98 and a loss percentage of 21.56 as England’s Test skipper.

8. Hansie Cronje (South Africa)- 7/10

Late Hansie Cronje, who was once the skipper of South Africa, gets the 8th spot in this list and gets a rating of 7 out of 10. Cronje led South Africa in Tests from 1994 to 2000. Cronje has a good record as a skipper in Test cricket.

He led the team in 53 Tests, out of which he won 27 and lost 11 games. There were 15 matches that ended in a draw. Cronje has a win percentage of 50.94 and a loss percentage of just 20.75 while leading South Africa in Tests.

7. Graeme Smith (South Africa)- 7/10

Former South African cricketer Graeme Smith gets the 7th spot in this list and earns a rating of 7 out of 10 as a Test captain. Graeme Smith is the only player to lead a team in 100 Tests. He led the Proteas national team in Tests from 2003 to 2014. The left-handed batsman led South Africa in 109 matches, winning 53 and losing 29.

There were 27 matches that ended in a draw. He has a win percentage of 48.62 and a loss percentage of 26.6 while leading the team in Test cricket.

6. Clive Lloyd (West Indies)- 7.5/10

Former West Indies cricketer Clive Lloyd grabs the 6th spot in this list with a rating of 7.5 out of 10. Lloyd led West Indies to two ODI World Cup titles in 1975 and 1979. In Test cricket, he led West Indies in 74 matches from 1974 to 1985. He managed to win 36 matches and lost 12, while there were 26 matches that ended in a draw. Lloyd accounts for a win percentage of 48.64 and a loss percentage of 16.21 in Tests.

5. Viv Richards (West Indies)- 7.5/10

Former West Indies cricketer Viv Richards grabs the 5th spot in this list with a rating of 7.5 out of 10. Viv Richards led the West Indies side in Test cricket from 1980 to 1991. He was the captain of the team in 50 Tests.

Under his captainship, West Indies won 27 games and lost 8, while 15 ended in a draw. Richards has a win percentage of 54 and a loss percentage of just 16 as a Test skipper.

4. Kane Williamson (New Zealand)- 8/10

New Zealand’s current skipper Kane Williamson bags the 4th spot in this list with a rating of 8 out of 10. Since 2016, Williamson had led New Zealand in 37 matches. He was won 22 matches and lost 8. There were 7 matches that ended in a draw.

The right-handed batsman also led New Zealand to ICC World Test Championship 2021 title. Williamson accounts for a win percentage of 59.45 and a loss percentage of just 21.62.

3. Virat Kohli (India)- 8.5/10

Virat Kohli clinches the 3rd spot in this list with a rating of 8.5 out of 10. The Indian skipper has led the national side in Test cricket since 2014. The right-handed batsman has led India in 61 Tests so far, out of which he won 36 and lost 15.

There were 10 matches that ended in a draw. Kohli accounts for a win percentage of 59.01 and a loss percentage of 24.59.

2. Ricky Ponting (Australia)- 9/10

Former Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting grabs the 3rd spot in this list with a rating of 9 out of 10. Ponting led the Australian team in Test cricket from 2004 to 2010. The right-handed batsman led the team in 77 matches, out of which he won 48 games and lost 16.

There were 13 matches that ended in a draw. Ponting has a win percentage of 62.33 and a loss percentage of 20.77 as Australia’s Test captain.

1. Steve Waugh (Australia)- 9.5/10

Former Aussie captain Steve Smith steals the top spot in this list with a rating of 9.5 out of 10. Steve Waugh led Australia in Test cricket from 1999 to 2004. Under his captainship, Australia played 57 matches, winning 41 and losing 9.

There were only 7 matches that ended in a draw. Steve Waugh has a win percentage of 71.92 and a loss percentage of just 15.78. So far, this is the highest percentage of victory for any captain in Test cricket.