Top 10 cricket captains of the last two decades

Graeme Smith made history recently by becoming the only cricketer to lead a team in 100 Tests. This event raised questions in my mind as to who are the best captains from the year I was born to this day. I am not going to consider the captains of all time because of my limited knowledge about the game. I pen down the top 10 captains of the last 2 decades, from 1990 to 2013 (23 years actually).

10) Arjuna Ranatunga

Arjuna Ranatunga led the most under-rated cricketing nation to a World Cup victory in 1996. This victory changed the way world looked at Sri Lanka as a country and sporting nation.

9) Michael Vaughan

One of the best batsmen England has had in the recent times. After Nasser Hussian stepped down, Vaughan took up captaincy. The pinnacle of his captaincy career was the 2005 Ashes series, this being England’s first Ashes victory since 1986/87. Many young and fresh players like Kevin Pietersen, Strauss and Flintoff emerged under his captaincy. He holds the record of most Tests for England as a captain.

8) Nasser Hussain

Nasser Hussain was born in Madras, India and led England for a short span of 4 years. The 4 years he led the English side totally transformed the style of English Test cricket. He was always full of energy and ideas. He was known to make four field-changes in one over in a Test match, searching for the solution, trying to make up for the lack of variety among his bowling attack. He was very well known for his imaginative field placements. He reinvented the game for England and set it up the coming players to take it form there.

7) Stephen Fleming

Stephen Fleming is the most capped ODI captain (218 matches). He had a peculiar style in his captaincy. He opened the innings and led the team from the front. He was known for his astute tactical abilities on the field. He was the most balanced person on and off the field. He led New Zealand to the 1999 World Cup semi final and won the Champions Trophy in 2001.

6) Imran Khan

I think Imran Khan was a born leader. He was very aggressive as a bowler and never accepted a below par performance from his players. He always questioned the batsmen with his deadly bowling. He reflected the same qualities in his captaincy. He groomed young bowlers like Akram and Waqar Younis. Apart from this bowling skills, he spoke with the willow too. He is the only man to lift the crystal World Cup.

5) Hansie Cronje

The only captain who spoke to his players with his eyes rather than his hands and mouth. He set the field with his eye movements. He was a perfect all rounder and led SA to 99 victories out of the 138 matches he captained them in ODIs. He had the record of winning series against all nations except Australia. His cricketing career ended with a match-fixing scandal.

4) Sourav Ganguly

Who else could have the guts to wave his shirt from the gallery of the home of cricket? It is the one and only Sourav Ganguly. He sent a strong message to the whole world,”We, the men in blue, are heading to every cricket ground to make you bleed blue”. He was very emotional and aggressive both as a cricketer and commentator. He made winning overseas a habit for India. He led India to 14 finals in his career, winning only 2. He was known for his off-field and on-field tactics, like the famous toss controversy during the India-Australia series.

3) Steve Waugh

Steve Waugh was a perfect all-rounder and a captain every team would dream of. He was considered to be the Mr.Cool of his time. He took a team with fresh talent and groomed the likes of Ponting and Lee. He led Australia to the 1999 World Cup, the start of the golden era of Australian Cricket. Steve Waugh is still loved by people all over the world. He set the record of 16 consecutive Test wins, which was later equalled by Ricky Ponting.

2) Graeme Smith

Smith became the only man to lead a team for 100 Test matches, a feat that can never be broken by anyone in the near future. He started leading South Africa from a very young age. He is the second best captain when comparing winning percentages. He led SA to the no.1 status in Tests and ODI’s, and won many series’, home and away. I think his next dream as a captain would be to win the World Cup for South Africa. Wish you all the best for the World Cup 2015, Mr Smith.

1) Ricky Ponting

Punter! He was ready to do anything within the rules of the game for a win. He sometimes dictated terms even to the umpires. He is considered to be the world’s most devastating no.3 batsman and was agile and swift on the field. He achieved the rare feat of leading a team to consecutive World Cup victories. He has the highest winning percentage as captain. He was part of the hat-trick World Cup winning Australian team.