9 Best Captains in Test Cricket History, Ranked

Captaincy in Test cricket isn’t just about making the right decision at the toss. It covers everything from bowling changes and field placements to man management and the timing of declarations.

The best Test captains have instilled a clear culture in their teams and changed the long-term outlook for their nations in the longest format.

9 Best Test Cricket Captains, Ranked

Who Are the Greatest Test Cricket Captains of All Time? 

1. Allan Border

Allan Border became Australia’s captain at a difficult time. Test cricket was in a period of flux, and the Aussies were a far cry from the dominant side of previous decades.

Border laid the foundation for Australia to become the best team in the world under Mark Taylor. His decision to play harder wasn’t popular with opponents, but it altered how Australia fared in Test cricket. Only one player has captained more Tests.

2. Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli took India from a decent Test team to a great one. A fierce competitor leading from the front, Kohli got stuck into opponents. As a result, India became much more competitive in Tests outside of Asia, leading to their first series win in Australia in 2018-19.

India became the No. 1-ranked side in the world under Kohli’s leadership. He’s the country’s most successful Test captain with 40 wins from 68 matches. 

3. Graeme Smith

Holder of the record for the most matches as captain and the most wins, Graeme Smith’s influence on South Africa was enormous. Smith has captained 16 more Tests than any other player.

A resilient opening batter, Smith made South Africa into a hard-competing, stubborn team. They became the best Test team in the world in the 2010s. 

4. Steve Waugh

No captain can better Steve Waugh’s winning rate of 71.92%. Waugh lost only nine of his 57 Tests in charge of Australia, building on the work of Border and Taylor to make the Aussies into arguably the most dominant Test team.

Aggressive in his decision-making, Waugh encouraged his team to score quickly, which put immense pressure on the opposition. He also had the benefit of Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath’s brilliance with the ball. 

5. Mike Brearley

Mike Brearley only lost four of his 31 Tests as England captain. A background in psychology helped him to become the sport’s greatest ever man manager, motivating stars like Ian Botham and Bob Willis in England’s remarkable comeback in the 1981 Ashes.

While he’s best remembered for the Ashes, Brearley had success at home and abroad. He maintained authority despite a mediocre record as a batter and remains a trusted voice in the English game. 

6. Clive Lloyd

Leading an immensely talented West Indies team, Clive Lloyd oversaw a run of 26 Tests without a defeat. 

Lloyd utilised his fast bowlers to intimidate when required and target the stumps when conditions favoured. He brought a ruthlessness to the West Indies that made them a juggernaut in the 1970s and 1980s.

7. Ben Stokes

Along with Brendon McCullum, Ben Stokes has led the Bazball revolution. England had won one in 17 matches before Stokes was appointed. Change was necessary, and the positive thinking of Stokes and McCullum brought it immediately. 

A series win in Pakistan and a scintillating home series with India and Australia have been the highlights to date. Various records have been shattered along the way. Stokes has been adamant about forcing results – no other captain with over 25 Tests in charge has a draw rate below 10%. His mark is 5.4%. 

8. Stephen Fleming

For many of the 80 Tests that Stephen Fleming was captain for, New Zealand were underdogs in the cricket betting markets. Fleming had some good players at his disposal, but the Kiwis were far from a powerhouse. 

Unshakeable in his calmness and always thinking on his feet, Fleming ensured New Zealand punched above their weight on the Test stage. 

9. MS Dhoni

Before Kohli, MS Dhoni’s record of 27 wins from 60 Tests as India’s captain made him the nation’s best. Massively respected by his peers, Dhoni began the process that Kohli later completed by making India gradually more competitive outside of the subcontinent. 

His captaincy was often inventive, and he managed to negotiate a period of transition after the retirements of several stars, including Anil Kumble, VVS Laxman, and Virender Sehwag.