5 batsmen who have scored the most centuries as captains in Test cricket

Captaining a Test side and being a premier batsman is indeed a gargantuan task for any cricketer. A Test match is indeed the ultimate test for any cricketer, and the pressure gets compounded when leadership comes into play. While some relish the responsibility and raise their game a notch, many fizzle out due to the pressures of Captaincy.

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In this article, let us look at five batsmen who have scored the most centuries as captains in Test cricket.

#5. Steve Smith

Steve Smith averages a whopping 70.37 as Captain in Tests

At No.5 comes the Australian batting run machine, Steve Smith. The unorthodox batting sensation averages a gargantuan 64.56 in Test cricket, second only to the great Sir Don Bradman. Smith has also already scored 6973 runs and is well on his way to establishing himself as the premier Test batsman of this era.

As a captain, Smith’s numbers are even more impressive. As the Australian skipper, Smith has played 60 innings for Australia and scored 3659 runs, including 13 fifties and 15 hundreds at an unreal average of 70.37. This means that Smith has crossed the 50 run mark in every 2.14 innings that he has played as the skipper of the Australian team.

Record as Captain

Innings:60 Runs:3659 Average:70.37 100s:15 50s:13

#4. Steve Waugh

Under Waugh's leadership, the Australian team was a force to reckon with

At No.4 comes one of the greatest captains of all time, Steve Waugh. Under his leadership, the Australian team was a force to reckon with as they dominated teams from across the world. Waugh played a whopping 168 Tests for Australia and scored 10927 runs at an average of 51.06, including 50 fifties and 32 hundreds.

Waugh captained Australia on 57 occasions and scored 3714 runs, including 10 fifties and 15 hundreds. His most memorable knock as the Australian skipper came in April 1995, when he scored 200* against the West Indies and helped his side thrash their opponents by an innings and 53 runs.

Record as Captain

Innings:83 Runs:3714 Average:52.31 100s:15 50s:10

#3.Ricky Ponting

Ponting is the highest run-scorer for Australia in Test cricket

Without a shadow of a doubt, Ricky Ponting will go down as the greatest captain of the Australian Cricket Team. Ponting is the highest run-scorer for Australia in Test cricket with 13378 runs to his name and he is also his country’s highest century-maker with a colossal 41 hundreds.

Ponting captained Australia on 77 occasions and scored 6542 runs as Captain, including 35 fifties and 19 hundreds. He averaged 51.51 as the Australian skipper, compared to his overall career average of 51.85. Ponting’s highest score as Captain was a magical 257 at the iconic MCG and his knock enabled Australia to trounce India by 9 wickets in the year 2003.

Record as Captain:

Innings:140 Runs:6542 Average:51.51 100’s:19 50’s:35

#2.Virat Kohli

Kohli is hailed as the heir apparent to the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.

The second place in the list is taken by Virat Kohli. Hailed by many as the heir apparent to the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, Kohli has dismantled bowling attacks across the world with ease.

The batting Superstar has played 85 innings as captain of the Indian team and scored 4968 runs at an astounding average of 62.89, including 12 fifties and a staggering 19 hundreds. Kohli has also scored a stunning 7 double hundreds as Captain, the latest being an epic 254 that allowed India to trounce South Africa at home.

Kohli is the second fastest Indian batsman to get to 7000 Test runs after the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.

Record as Captain

Innings:85 Runs:4968 Average:62.89 100’s:19 50’s:12

#1.Graeme Smith

Smith captained the South African cricket team on a whopping 107 occasions

Occupying the No.1 spot in the list is former South African skipper, Graeme Smith. In a career spanning 12 years, Smith played 117 Tests for South Africa and scored 9265 runs at an average of 48.27, including 38 fifties and 27 hundreds. Smith captained the South African team on a whopping 109 occasions and scored 8659 runs as skipper at an average of 47.84

The stylish left-handed opening batsman scored 36 fifties and an incredible 25 hundreds as captain in Test cricket. Smith's best batting effort as the skipper was a splendid 277 that he conjured against England at Edgbaston in the year 2003. His marathon knock allowed South Africa draw the match against the hosts.

Record as Captain

Innings:140 Runs:6542 Average:51.51 100’s:19 50’s:35