Top 5 England captains of all time

#3 Sir Len Hutton

Sir Len Hutton was England's first professional Test captain

If one were to go by just scorecards and mere numbers, the 1952 Headingley Test between England and India might be nothing more than a footnote in the annals of the game. But the 7-wicket victory for the hosts holds major significance as they were being led by their first ever professional captain. Apart from being one of the greatest ever batsman of all-time, Sir Len Hutton was also a dependable skipper who managed to extract efficient performances from his men.

Without a shred of doubt, the successive home and away Ashes series triumphs were the highlight of Hutton's captaincy. The victory in Australian soil was all the more sweet considering the fact that England bounced back from an embarrassing innings defeat in the series opener at the Gabba.

Throughout his tenure, Hutton's handling of the fearsome pace trio of Fred Trueman, Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson and Brian Statham vindicated his captaincy skills. He ensured that they remained fit and fresh by giving them short and purposeful spells.

Captaincy Record

Tests: 11 wins and 4 losses from 21 matches