Test format is considered to be the toughest among all the three formats of cricket. The biggest reason for this is that any player's technique and patience are truly tested in this format. Whichever team has the better balance of bowling and batting, it becomes easier for them to win. But the role of the captain is also very important.
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In Test cricket, the game is seen changing from session to session. So, the captain's role is very important. He has to make the right decisions while bowling or batting. In this article, we will discuss most Test wins as a captain, under whose leadership the teams have been most successful.
Most Test wins as a captain
1# Graeme Smith | 53
From 2003 to 2014, South Africa's dominance was seen in the Test format. The biggest reason for this was the captaincy of Graeme Smith, who was also considered an excellent left-handed batsman.
Under the captaincy of Smith, South Africa played 109 test matches, out of which they won 53, suffered 29 losses, and had 27 drawn ones. The team's winning percentage was 48.62. It also won Test series in Australia, New Zealand, England and West Indies.
2# Ricky Ponting | 48
The performance of the Australian team in the Test format has been quite excellent 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. He led the team from 2004 to 2010.
Under the captaincy of Ponting, the Australian team started being counted among the most dangerous teams in world cricket. Under the leadership of Ponting, the Kangaroo team played 77 test matches, out of which they won 48.
3# Steve Waugh | 41
After the retirement of Mark Taylor in February 1999, Steve Waugh was appointed the captain of the Australian team.
Under the leadership of Waugh, the team played its first Test series on the West Indies tour. This test series ended in a tie at 2-2. The team had also made a record of winning 16 consecutive Test series, which was stopped by India. Waugh led Australia in 57 Test matches and won 41 of them. He had only 9 losses as skipper with 7 drawn games.
4# Virat Kohli | 40
The Indian team performed brilliantly in the Test format under the captaincy of Virat Kohli from 2014 to 2022. With the most Test wins as an Indian captain, Kohli's legacy is truly unmatched.
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During the tour of Sri Lanka in 2015, Team India won the 3-match Test series by 2-1. After this, in the year 2018-19, India became the first team in Asia to win the Test series in Australia. Under the captaincy of Kohli, Team India had won 40 out of total 68 test matches. He had 17 losses as skipper with 11 drawn matches. During this period, the team's winning percentage was 58.82.