Today, we take a look at the Top 10 test captains of 21st century with highest batting average. Captains have an inherent responsibility to lead from the front, to inspire their teammates to raise their game, but also to ensure that their own batting doesn’t get in the way of their leadership.
There is a fine line between living upto your roles as a leader and a batsman, and SPORTZWIKI’s Top 10 test captains of 21st century with highest batting average recognises those captains who have continued their batting form even under the mantle of captaincy.
We all have a fancy for statistics, don’t we? Don’t you constantly keep an eye on the ICC rankings to see whether our very own Virat is at the top of the pile among ODI batsmen, or whether Ravindra Jadeja is among the best all-rounders in the world? To satiate our hunger for these statistics, SPORTZWIKI presents to you an all-new section ‘STATS’ in which we would cover the most interesting stats in the cricketing world.
10. Graeme Smith (South Africa) – 49.00
Unlike some of the other great leaders of our times – Stephen Fleming, Michael Vaughan and Sourav Ganguly – who let their captaincy come in the way of their batting, Smith’s responsibilities as a captain hasn’t diminished his aura with the bat one wee bit. An average of 49 in test cricket is a testament to Smith’s ability to draw a line between the two facets of the game. Smith is 10th in SPORTZWIKI’s Top 10 test captains of 21st century with highest batting average.
9. Andy Flower (Zimbabwe) – 49.28
Andy Flower was not just an inspirational skipper, but a truly world-class batsman in his own right. Flower’s track record in test-match cricket is unmatched in his home country, and an average of 49.28 earns Andy Flower the 9th place in SPORTZWIKI’s Top 10 test captains of 21st century with highest batting average.
8. Sachin Tendulkar (India) – 51.35
Need we say more? Sachin Tendulkar has been undoubtedly the most consistent batsman over the past three decades, averaging over 50 in test match cricket for the last 18 years. The master blaster comes in at the 8th spot in SPORTZWIKI’s Top 10 test captains of 21st century with highest batting average.
7. Ricky Ponting (Australia) – 51.51
Ricky Ponting was at the peak of his powers during his reign as Australian captain. Punter was batting in his prime during his period as Aussie skipper, and produced one stellar performance after another. An average of 51.51 earns Punter the 7th spot in SPORTZWIKI’s Top 10 test captains of 21st century with highest batting average.
6. Inzamam ul-Haq (Pakistan) – 52.10
Inzamam ul-Haq’s great career for Pakistan does sometimes get overlooked in an era in which he had to share the spotlight with legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Ricky Ponting and Rahul Dravid among many others. But Inzy’s track record and his consistency is unquestionable, and the former Pakistan skipper occupies the 6th position with an average of 52.10.
5. Steve Waugh (Aus) – 52.30
Steve Waugh’s grit and character set him apart from his peers – the former Australian skipper wouldn’t spare an inch on the field, and was one of the most feisty competitors in world cricket. His batting was equally impressive. With an average of 52.30, Steve Waugh comes in at th 5th spot in our elite list.
4. Brian Lara (West Indies) – 57.83
The man from Trinidad was capable of executing the most elegant drives one is likely to see on a cricket field and his wristy batting style made him strong on the leg-side. Lara is also the only batsman in first class cricket to have scored a hundred, double hundred, triple hundred, quadruple hundred and a quintuple hundred in his senior career. Exceptional player!
3. Michael Clarke (Aus) – 58.98
Michael Clarke’s stunning Ashes series a couple of months back proved that the Aussie skipper knows how to balance his batting and leadership roles. With an average of 58.98, Clarke take a podium spot in SPORTZWIKI’s Top 10 test captains of 21st century with highest batting average.
2. Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka) – 59.11
By the time Mahela Jayawardene finishes playing his cricket, he will have assembled a truly glittering cricketing career and would go down in the sport’s history as one of the most consistent and classy stroke-makers. Jayawardene’s stellar career has coincided with Sri Lanka’s meteoric rise as one of modern day’s strongest outfits.
1. Misbah-ul-Haq – (Pak) – 61.38
A late bloomer in cricketing terms, Misbah-ul-Haq has lent vital stability to the Pakistan middle order after the retirements of Inzamam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Yousuf. The Pakistan test and ODI skipper tops PORTZWIKI’s Top 10 test captains of 21st century with highest batting average with a truly remarkable average of 61.38.
| 1 | Misbah-ul-Haq | 61.38 |
| 2 | Mahela Jayawardene | 59.11 |
| 3 | Michael Clarke | 58.98 |
| 4 | Brian Lara | 57.83 |
| 5 | Steve Waugh | 52.30 |
| 6 | Inzamam ul-Haq | 52.10 |
| 7 | Ricky Ponting | 51.51 |
| 8 | Sachin Tendulkar | 51.35 |
| 9 | Andy Flower | 49.29 |
| 10 | Graeme Smith | 49.00 |
