Successful Captains In Test Cricket: Test format is considered to be the most difficult in all the three formats of cricket. The biggest reason for this is that right from the technique of any player to his patience is tested in the test format. For any team to be successful in this format, there should be better players in both the bowling and batting departments. Whichever team has this balance better, it becomes easier for them to win. But the role of the captain is also very important in this.
In Test cricket, the game is seen changing from session to session. In such a situation, the role of the captain of any team becomes very important. He has to take the right decisions while bowling or batting. We are going to tell you about 5 such captains in Test cricket history, under whose leadership the teams have been the most successful.
5 – Graeme Smith (48.62 winning percentage)
From the year 2003 to 2014, the dominance of the South African team was seen in the Test format. The biggest reason for this was the captaincy of Graeme Smith, who was also counted as the best left-handed batsman. Under Smith’s captaincy, the South African team also won Test series in Australia, New Zealand, England and the West Indies. Under Smith’s captaincy, the African team played 109 Test matches, out of which they won 53 and the team’s winning percentage was 46.82.
4 – Clive Lloyd (48.64 win percentage)
From 1974 to 1985, the dominance of the West Indies team was seen in world cricket. At that time, the Windies team was counted among the most dangerous teams in Test cricket. Clive Lloyd used to captain the West Indies at that time. Under whose leadership the team won Test series in Australia and England apart from India. Under the captaincy of Clive Lloyd, the West Indies won 36 out of 74 Test matches. During Lloyd’s 11-year captaincy tenure, the West Indies had to face defeat in only 3 Test series.
3 – Virat Kohli (58.82 win percentage)
The Indian team performed brilliantly in the Test format from 2014 to 2022 under the captaincy of Virat Kohli. In the year 2015, on the tour of Sri Lanka, Team India won the 3-match Test series 2-1. After this, in the year 2018-19, under the captaincy of Virat Kohli, the Indian team became the first team in Asia to win the Test series in Australia. Under the captaincy of Kohli, Team India won 40 out of 68 Test matches. During this, the winning percentage of the team was 58.82.
2 – Ricky Ponting (62.33 winning percentage)
The performance of the Australian team in the Test format has been impressive so far. The biggest reason for this has been the presence of one excellent player in the team. After the retirement of Steve Waugh in 2004, the responsibility of captaining the Australian team was handed over to Ricky Ponting. Under the captaincy of Ponting, the Australian team was being counted among the most dangerous teams in world cricket. Under the leadership of Ricky Ponting, the Kangaroo team played 77 Test matches, out of which they won 44.
1 – Steve Waugh (71.92 winning percentage)
The most successful captain in the Test format so far has been former Australian legend Steve Waugh. In February 1999, Steve Waugh was appointed as the captain of the Kangaroo team after the retirement of Mark Taylor. Under the leadership of Waugh, the team played its first Test series on the tour of West Indies. This Test series ended in a draw at 2-2. Under the captaincy of Steve Waugh, the Kangaroo team had also made a record of winning 16 consecutive Test series, which was stopped by India. Under the leadership of Steve Waugh, the Kangaroo team won 41 out of 57 Test matches.
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