Follow UsThe hardest format in the game of cricket demands the highest quality and produces the toughest players. The dominance of a team in a test is very much dependent on the captain itself. Captaining a test side is much harder and different from the ones in ODIs and T20s. It's not about controlling power plays like the limited-overs cricket, it's about controlling sessions for being at the top after the end of the day's play. In the history of Test Cricket, many captains have proved their worth and showed glimpses of an ideal skipper. Let's us take a look at those captains with highest batting average in Test's in England.
Also Read : A drought of Test Centuries and Indian top five batsmen
Top 5 players with Highest Batting Average as Captain in England :
#1. Don Bradman | Average 85.63
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Image : news.com.au
99.94 is a popular number when one talks about Sir Don Bradman because it's an average no player could ever reach. But little do they know his average as a captain was 101.52 in 24 tests. The numbers are unbelievable, he had 14 centuries and four double centuries under his belt as a captain. However, Sir Don Bradman had played in England with an average of 85.63 and thus simply he is leading the charts.
Sir Don Bradman as a captain in Tests :
| Matches | 24 |
| Innings | 38 |
| Runs | 3,147 |
| Average | 101.52 |
| 50's | 8 |
| 100's | 14 |
#2. Gary Sobers | Average 72.66
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Image : crictracker.com
The West Indies legend Sir Garfield Sobers(also known as Gary Sobers) comes at second spot in the list. Sir Gary had played a total of 93 test matches in which he has scored 80032 runs with an average of 57.78. The West Indian was given the teams charge on 1965 at the age of 29 and he was continued till 1972. He was captained the side for a total of 39 matches. However, Sir Gary Sobers had played in England with an average of mammoth 72.66 in Test cricket.
Sir Gary Sobers as a captain in Tests :
| Matches | 39 |
| Innings | 71 |
| Runs | 3528 |
| Average | 58.80 |
| 50's | 30 |
| 100's | 26 |
#3. Graeme Smith | Average 67.75
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Image : espncricinfo.com
The most successful captain in Cricket South Africa's history is Graeme Smith. Graeme had played in England with an average of 67.75 as a Captain in Test's. The left-handed South African features at no. 1 in this list with 25 tons to his name as a captain. Although South Africa didn't manage to win a major ICC tournament, they were not a team to reckon with under him. During RSA's test winning streak, they were a nightmare for every team. Graeme Smith was handed the captaincy at the age of 22. He has captained South Africa in 109 test matches and led his team to victories in 53 of those, so far it's the highest by any captain in history to lead a side into the victories.
Graeme Smith as a Captain in Tests :
| Matches | 109 |
| Innings | 190 |
| Runs | 8,659 |
| Average | 47.84 |
| 50's | 36 |
| 100's | 25 |
Read Also : Most test wickets in England by Indian bowlers
#4. Allan Border | Average 64.00
Image : cricket.com.au
One of the greatest batsman for Australia in Test cricket, Allan Border. The left handed batsman of Australia has played a total of 156 test matches scoring 11107 runs with an average of 50.56. However, Border had played in England with an average of 64.00 as a captain in Test cricket. Border has 27 tons to his name with a highest score of 205. He was given the charge of Australian Cricket Team in 1989 at the age of 34. He last captained his team against South Africa in a test Series before he got his retirement.
Allan Border as a captain in Tests :
| Matches | 92 |
| Innings | 180 |
| Runs | 6623 |
| Average | 50.95 |
| 50's | 63 |
| 100's | 27 |
#5. Virat Kohli | Average 47.80
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Image : crictracker.com
Arguably, the best player in the world Virat Kohli has captained a total of 64* matches till now. At 32, Kohli is already India's most successful captain in Test cricket with 37 wins. Virat is a class apart from others when it comes to batting. Kohli has already scored 20 tons as a captain in tests which is the second-highest in the world and still has many years of his game left. However, Kohli has played with an average of 47.80 in England as a Captain in Test cricket.
Virat Kohli as a Captain in Tests :
| Matches | 60 |
| Runs | 5,392 |
| Average | 59.25 |
| 50's | 15 |
| 100's | 20 |
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N.B : The stats are accurate as of 31/08/2021.
