5 captains with most international centuries in a calendar year

'Fire in the belly but ice in the brain' is possibly the best phrase to describe the captain of a cricket team.

When a player is chosen to be at the helm of affairs, he needs to raise his own game in addition to inspiring his team to perform well.

Mental fortitude, the art of effective communication, emotional discipline, self-confidence, people management skills and knowledge of one's craft are the attributes that make a laudable skipper.

Many admirable leaders graced the gentlemen's game in the 140 years of its existence.

Now, let's have a look at the five such captains who led from the front by scoring most international centuries in a calendar year.

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Mahela Jayawardene (7, 2007)

In the year 2007, Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene struck seven international hundreds across formats and became the first and only batsman from his country to get as many hundred-plus scores in a calendar year.

In 45 matches that he played in 2007, Jayawardene scored 2230 runs at an average of 51.86.

Jayawardene took a special liking to Bangladesh and England that year, scoring two tons against each of them.

His highest score of the year came in December, during a Test against England at Galle.

Jayawardene remained unbeaten on 213, his fourth double hundred in Tests, and the match was eventually drawn.

Brian Lara (7, 2003)

In the year 2003, West Indies skipper Brian Lara accumulated 1984 runs at an average of 64.00 in the 25 matches he played that year.

With five Test and two ODI tons, Lara dominated almost all oppositions and scored two centuries each against Australia, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.

He scored two double hundreds that year, one against Sri Lanka and another opposite South Africa.

Lara's highest score came in a Test at Gros Islet, where he scored 209 against Sri Lanka.

However, Lara's 116 from 134-balls was his most memorable ton of the year as the West Indies knocked out 2003 ICC World Cup hosts South Africa in the tournament opener.

Graeme Smith (9, 2005)

In the year 2005, the captains of two formidable sides ended up scoring nine international tons each, and South Africa skipper Graeme Smith was one of them.

In 35 matches that Smith played in 2005, he scored 2035 runs at an average of 50.87.

Out of his four centuries in Test and five in ODIs, four came against the West Indies.

His highest score of the year was 148 at the Port of Spain as he led South Africa to an eight-wicket win over the hosts.

It was followed by three consecutive centuries, in Jamaica (103), Barbados (104) and Antigua (126).

Ricky Ponting (9, 2005 & 2006)

The other captain to score nine international tons in the year 2005 was none other than Australian skipper Ricky Ponting.

In fact, Ponting is the only captain in the world to score the highest number of international tons, two years in a row.

In 2005, Ponting scored 2833 runs in 46 matches, whereas in 2006, he scored 2164 in 35.

At the 2006 ICC Awards, Australia's captain was named the ICC Test Player and Player of the Year.

In January 2006, playing in his 100th Test, Ponting scored a century in both innings against South Africa in Sydney.

In those 12 months, Ponting scored five tons against the Proteas, including his 164 off 105 balls at the Wanderers when the hosts chased down a world record 438.

In the same year, he scored a magnificent 156 at Old Trafford and it was considered one of the greatest Ashes innings of all time.

Virat Kohli (10, 2017)

When Team India skipper Virat Kohli scored 104* against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens on November 16, he brought up his ninth ton of the year and his 50th overall. He followed it up with his 10th of the year in the next Test match against Sri Lanka in Nagpur.

By scoring 50 international hundreds in 348 innings, Kohli became the joint-fastest to achieve the feat alongside former South Africa skipper Hashim Amla.

With four hundred-plus scores in Tests and six in ODIs - the most by him in any calendar year, he bettered his own record of eight centuries apiece in 2012 and 2014.

No captain has made more international hundreds in a year than Kohli's ten this year.

The first ODI of New Zealand's tour to India (22 October 2017) was Kohli's 200th and he scored his 31st hundred-plus score in the 50-over format to go past Ricky Ponting in the ODI ton list.

He is second to only Sachin Tendulkar, who has 49.