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Click Hare For New Update – Top Five Most Successful Indian Captains
Today, we shift out focus on the Top 10 youngest captains in test cricket history. Leading a side in a test match is a massive honour, a privilege only few are bestowed upon. It is also a challenge that requires every inch of one’s cricketing skills, as well as leadership and management qualities. Test cricket is the holy grail for any cricketer, and the constant scrutiny that comes from leading a side in the longer format just adds to the pressure – only those who have stepped up when it mattered have been successful as test captains. Let’s dig into the history books and take a look at the Top 10 youngest captains in test cricket history.
10. Mushfiqur Rahim
The Bangladesh captain was thrown into the top job at the age of 23 after Bangladesh slumped to an unexpected defeat at the hands of Zimbabwe in 2011. Rahim made his debut as skipper against West Indies at Chittagong.
9. Mohammad Ashraful
Mohammad Ashraful, as a batsman, always gave you the impression that he had the potential to make it big in international cricket, but his inconsistency let him down. As a skipper, Ashraful failed to win each of the 13 tests in which he led Bangladesh, drawing just the one. Asharful takes the 9th place in SPORTZWIKI’s Top 10 youngest captains in test cricket history.
8. M Bisset
A wicket keeper batsman, Sir Murray Bisset captained South Africa in two test matches in 1899 and lost both. Having been handed the mantle of captaincy at 22 years and 306 days, Bisset takes the 8th spot in SPORTZWIKI’s Top 10 youngest captains in test cricket history.
7. Javed Miandad
After Asif Iqbal retired from the game following a series defeat to India, Miandad was chosen as the Pakistan captain ahead of senior players like Zaheer Abbas, Sarfraz Nawaz, Majid Khan and Wasim Bari. Miandad began with a series win over the Aussies.
6. Ian Craig
A slightly built right-handed batsman, Craig holds the distinction of being the youngest Australian to score a first-class double ton, play for the country and to captain his country. But loss of form and ill-health forced him out of the side after just one season.
5. Shakib Al-Hasan
The third Bangldeshi in the list, Shakib Al Hasan took over the captaincy from the injured Mashrafe Mortaza for a test against West Indies at St. George’s. Under Shakib’s leadership Bangladesh went on to win the second Test, and in the process secured their first ever overseas series win. Shakib helped himself to both the man of the match and man of the series awards.
4. Graeme Smith
Smith took over the reins of the team after just eight matches into his test career after Shaun Pollock resigned as skipper after the setback of the 2003 ICC World Cup. To captain an international side at the highest level for over a decade and in over a hundred test matches speaks volumes of Smith’s inherent leadership qualities and his stature as a leader of men in a South African side perched at the pinnacle of the Gentleman’s game.
3. Waqar Younis
Waqar Younis took over as Pakistan captain at the age of 22 in a test match against Zimbabwe at Karachi in 1993. Waqar had a 60% success rate as skipper, winning 10 out of 17 tests, his highest point as skipper came when Pakistan won six consecutive Test matches in 2001/2002.
2. Nawab of Pataudi
Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, atleast in terms of results on foreign soil, stands out as one of India’s greatest ever captains. Pataudi led India to its first-ever series victory on foreign soil as India won the 1967-68 test series in New Zealand by a margin of 3-1.
1. Tatenda Taibu
Zimbabwean wicket keeper batsman Taibu became the youngest ever test captain when on 6 May 2004, he captained his team against Sri Lanka. Taibu takes the 1st spot in SPORTZWIKI’s Top 10 youngest captains in test cricket history.
| Player | Age | Team | Opposition | Ground | Match Date | Scorecard |
| T Taibu | 20y 358d | Zimbabwe | v Sri Lanka | Harare | 6 May 2004 | Test # 1698 |
| Nawab of Pataudi | 21y 77d | India | v West Indies | Bridgetown | 23 Mar 1962 | Test # 527 |
| Waqar Younis | 22y 15d | Pakistan | v Zimbabwe | Karachi | 1 Dec 1993 | Test # 1237 |
| GC Smith | 22y 82d | South Africa | v Bangladesh | Chittagong | 24 Apr 2003 | Test # 1640 |
| Shakib Al Hasan | 22y 115d | Bangladesh | v West Indies | St George’s | 17 Jul 2009 | Test # 1926 |
| ID Craig | 22y 194d | Australia | v South Africa | Johannesburg | 23 Dec 1957 | Test # 444 |
| Javed Miandad | 22y 260d | Pakistan | v Australia | Karachi | 27 Feb 1980 | Test # 876 |
| M Bisset | 22y 306d | South Africa | v England | Johannesburg | 14 Feb 1899 | Test # 58 |
| Mohammad Ashraful | 22y 353d | Bangladesh | v Sri Lanka | Colombo (SSC) | 25 Jun 2007 | Test # 1837 |
| Mushfiqur Rahim | 23y 50d | Bangladesh | v West Indies | Chittagong | 21 Oct 2011 | Test # 2010 |