Best and worst captaincy records in a country

Travis Basevi
Travis Basevi
19-Oct-2010
Highest percentage of matches won as captain in a country - Tests (minimum 5 matches)
Player Host Country SpanMat Won Draw Tied Lost %
WW Armstrong (Aus) Australia 1920-1921 55 0 0 0 100.00
FMM Worrell (WI) West Indies 1962-1962 5 50 0 0 100.00
DB Close (Eng)England 1966-1967 7 6 1 00 85.71
MS Atapattu (SL) Sri Lanka 2004-20056 5 1 0 0 83.33
RT Ponting (Aus) South Africa 2006-2009 6 50 0 1 83.33
RT Ponting (Aus)Australia 2004-2010 35 28 4 03 80.00
GHS Trott (Aus) Australia 1897-18985 4 0 0 1 80.00
PW Sherwell (SA) South Africa 1906-1906 5 40 0 1 80.00
JWHT Douglas (Eng)South Africa 1913-1914 5 4 1 00 80.00
HL Collins (Aus) Australia 1924-19255 4 0 0 1 80.00
DR Jardine (Eng) Australia 1932-1933 5 40 0 1 80.00
VY Richardson (Aus)South Africa 1935-1936 5 4 1 00 80.00
AL Hassett (Aus) South Africa 1949-19505 4 1 0 0 80.00
JE Cheetham (SA) South Africa 1953-1954 5 41 0 0 80.00
RT Ponting (Aus)New Zealand 2005-2010 5 4 1 00 80.00
SM Pollock (SA) South Africa 2000-200313 10 3 0 0 76.92
SR Waugh (Aus) Australia 1999-2004 29 225 0 2 75.86
MS Dhoni (India)India 2008-2010 12 9 2 01 75.00
AL Hassett (Aus) Australia 1950-195314 10 1 0 3 71.42
A Shrewsbury (Eng) Australia 1884-1887 7 50 0 2 71.42
WG Grace (Eng)England 1888-1899 10 7 2 01 70.00
IM Chappell (Aus) Australia 1971-197513 9 2 0 2 69.23
AJ Strauss (Eng) England 2006-2010 18 124 0 2 66.66
WM Woodfull (Aus)Australia 1930-1933 15 10 0 05 66.66
DG Bradman (Aus) Australia 1936-194815 10 3 0 2 66.66
Highest percentage of matches undefeated as captain in a country - Tests (minimum 7 matches)
Player Host CountrySpan Mat Won Draw Tied Lost%
JM Brearley (Eng) England 1977-198119 12 7 0 0 100.00
CH Lloyd (WI) England 1976-1984 14 95 0 0 100.00
SM Pollock (SA)South Africa 2000-2003 13 10 3 00 100.00
NJ Contractor (India) India 1960-196210 2 8 0 0 100.00
AH Kardar (Pak) Pakistan 1955-1956 9 36 0 0 100.00
CA Walsh (WI)West Indies 1994-1997 9 2 7 00 100.00
Zaheer Abbas (Pak) Pakistan 1984-19848 3 5 0 0 100.00
Wasim Akram (Pak) Pakistan 1993-1999 8 53 0 0 100.00
MC Cowdrey (Eng)West Indies 1960-1968 7 1 6 00 100.00
DB Close (Eng) England 1966-19677 6 1 0 0 100.00
JG Wright (NZ) New Zealand 1988-1990 7 25 0 0 100.00
GC Smith (SA)West Indies 2005-2010 7 4 3 00 100.00
Javed Miandad (Pak) Pakistan 1980-199022 10 11 0 1 95.45
GP Howarth (NZ) New Zealand 1980-1985 17 88 0 1 94.11
SM Gavaskar (India)India 1978-1985 29 7 20 02 93.10
SR Waugh (Aus) Australia 1999-200429 22 5 0 2 93.10
CH Lloyd (WI) West Indies 1976-1984 24 139 0 2 91.66
IVA Richards (WI)West Indies 1984-1991 24 15 7 02 91.66
MS Dhoni (India) India 2008-201012 9 2 0 1 91.66
RT Ponting (Aus) Australia 2004-2010 35 284 0 3 91.42
Imran Khan (Pak)Pakistan 1982-1992 22 9 11 02 90.90
L Hutton (Eng) England 1952-195411 4 6 0 1 90.90
WG Grace (Eng) England 1888-1899 10 72 0 1 90.00
WR Hammond (Eng)England 1938-1946 10 3 6 01 90.00
AJ Strauss (Eng) England 2006-201018 12 4 0 2 88.88
Highest percentage of matches without a win as captain in a country - Tests (minimum 7 matches)
Player Host CountrySpan Mat Won Draw Tied Lost%
MW Gatting (Eng) England 1986-198811 0 8 0 3 100.00
AD Nourse (SA) South Africa 1948-1950 10 04 0 6 100.00
BC Lara (WI)South Africa 1998-2004 9 0 1 08 100.00
JR Reid (NZ) England 1958-19658 0 1 0 7 100.00
AW Greig (Eng) England 1975-1976 8 05 0 3 100.00
IT Botham (Eng)England 1980-1981 8 0 6 02 100.00
SM Gavaskar (India) Pakistan 1982-19848 0 5 0 3 100.00
SP Fleming (NZ) Australia 1997-2004 8 04 0 4 100.00
A Ranatunga (SL)India 1990-1997 7 0 3 04 100.00
RT Ponting (Aus) India 2004-20107 0 2 0 5 100.00
JR Reid (NZ) New Zealand 1956-1965 14 17 0 6 92.85
HW Taylor (SA)South Africa 1913-1923 13 1 5 07 92.30
A Flower (Zim) Zimbabwe 1994-199911 1 5 0 5 90.90
GS Sobers (WI) West Indies 1965-1972 20 215 0 3 90.00
N Kapil Dev (India)India 1983-1987 20 2 13 14 90.00
RB Kanhai (WI) West Indies 1973-197410 1 6 0 3 90.00
KR Rutherford (NZ) New Zealand 1993-1995 10 13 0 6 90.00
ADR Campbell (Zim)Zimbabwe 1996-2002 10 1 5 04 90.00
Habibul Bashar (Ban) Bangladesh 2004-200710 1 2 0 7 90.00
BE Congdon (NZ) New Zealand 1973-1975 8 14 0 3 87.50
MD Crowe (NZ)New Zealand 1991-1993 8 1 4 03 87.50
HP Tillakaratne (SL) Sri Lanka 2003-20048 1 4 0 3 87.50
AC MacLaren (Eng) England 1899-1909 14 27 0 5 85.71
WL Murdoch (Aus)England 1880-1890 7 1 2 04 85.71
MC Cowdrey (Eng) West Indies 1960-19687 1 6 0 0 85.71
Highest percentage of matches lost as captain in a country - Tests (minimum 5 matches)
Player Host CountrySpan Mat Won Draw Tied Lost%
Khaled Mashud (Ban) Bangladesh 2002-20046 0 0 0 6 100.00
T Taibu (Zim) Zimbabwe 2004-2005 6 00 0 6 100.00
HB Cameron (SA)Australia 1931-1932 5 0 0 05 100.00
DI Gower (Eng) West Indies 1986-19865 0 0 0 5 100.00
JC Adams (WI) Australia 2000-2001 5 00 0 5 100.00
Mohammad Yousuf (Pak)Australia 2004-2010 5 0 0 05 100.00
A Flintoff (Eng) Australia 2006-20075 0 0 0 5 100.00
BC Lara (WI) South Africa 1998-2004 9 01 0 8 88.88
JR Reid (NZ)England 1958-1965 8 0 1 07 87.50
GN Yallop (Aus) Australia 1978-19797 1 0 0 6 85.71
Wasim Akram (Pak) Australia 1995-1999 6 10 0 5 83.33
Mohammad Ashraful (Ban)Bangladesh 2008-2009 6 0 1 05 83.33
PF Warner (Eng) South Africa 1906-19065 1 0 0 4 80.00
PW Sherwell (SA) Australia 1910-1911 5 10 0 4 80.00
AER Gilligan (Eng)Australia 1924-1925 5 1 0 04 80.00
J Ryder (Aus) Australia 1928-19295 1 0 0 4 80.00
GC Grant (WI) Australia 1930-1931 5 10 0 4 80.00
HF Wade (SA)South Africa 1935-1936 5 0 1 04 80.00
L Amarnath (India) Australia 1947-19485 0 1 0 4 80.00
FR Brown (Eng) Australia 1950-1951 5 10 0 4 80.00
PBH May (Eng)Australia 1958-1959 5 0 1 04 80.00
Javed Burki (Pak) England 1962-19625 0 1 0 4 80.00
M Azharuddin (India) Australia 1991-1992 5 01 0 4 80.00
N Hussain (Eng)Australia 2002-2003 5 1 0 04 80.00
AC MacLaren (Eng) Australia 1897-19028 2 0 0 6 75.00
Highest percentage of matches won as captain in a country - ODIs (minimum 6 matches)
Player Host CountrySpan Mat Won NR Tied Lost%
N Hussain (Eng) Zimbabwe 2000-20017 7 0 0 0 100.00
DPMD Jayawardene (SL) Zimbabwe 2004-2008 6 60 0 0 100.00
SK Warne (Aus)Australia 1998-1999 11 10 0 01 90.90
WJ Cronje (SA) Pakistan 1996-199710 9 0 0 1 90.00
WJ Cronje (SA) United Arab Emirates 1996-2000 9 80 0 1 88.88
AC Gilchrist (Aus)Australia 2001-2007 9 8 0 01 88.88
CH Lloyd (WI) England 1975-198424 21 0 0 3 87.50
RT Ponting (Aus) West Indies 2003-2008 21 180 0 3 85.71
MW Gatting (Eng)England 1986-1988 7 6 0 01 85.71
J Smits (Neth) Netherlands 2007-20097 6 0 0 1 85.71
P Utseya (Zim) Kenya 2008-2009 7 60 0 1 85.71
RGD Willis (Eng)England 1978-1983 12 10 0 02 83.33
ADR Campbell (Zim) Bangladesh1998-1999 6 5 0 0 183.33
Shoaib Malik (Pak) United Arab Emirates 2007-2008 65 0 0 1 83.33
MA Atherton (Eng) England 1994-1997 15 121 0 2 80.00
JM Brearley (Eng)England 1977-1979 10 8 0 02 80.00
GC Smith (SA) West Indies 2005-201018 14 0 0 4 77.77
Zaheer Abbas (Pak) Pakistan 1982-1984 9 71 0 1 77.77
ADR Campbell (Zim)Kenya 1997-1999 9 7 0 02 77.77
SM Pollock (SA) West Indies 2001-20059 7 0 0 2 77.77
DPMD Jayawardene (SL) Pakistan 2008-2009 9 70 0 2 77.77
Imran Khan (Pak)India 1987-1989 13 10 0 03 76.92
RT Ponting (Aus) South Africa 2002-200930 23 1 1 5 76.66
WJ Cronje (SA) South Africa 1994-2000 51 391 0 11 76.47
Wasim Akram (Pak)Pakistan 1993-1997 17 13 0 04 76.47
Highest percentage of matches undefeated as captain in a country - ODIs (minimum 7 matches)
Player Host Country Span Mat Won NRTied Lost %
N Hussain (Eng)Zimbabwe 2000-2001 7 7 0 00 100.00
SK Warne (Aus) Australia 1998-199911 10 0 0 1 90.90
WJ Cronje (SA) Pakistan 1996-1997 10 90 0 1 90.00
Zaheer Abbas (Pak)Pakistan 1982-1984 9 7 1 01 88.88
WJ Cronje (SA) United Arab Emirates 1996-20009 8 0 0 1 88.88
AC Gilchrist (Aus) Australia 2001-2007 9 80 0 1 88.88
CH Lloyd (WI)England 1975-1984 24 21 0 03 87.50
GC Smith (SA) Bangladesh 2003-20088 6 1 0 1 87.50
Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pak) Sri Lanka 2004-2006 8 61 0 1 87.50
MA Atherton (Eng)England 1994-1997 15 12 1 02 86.66
RT Ponting (Aus) West Indies 2003-200821 18 0 0 3 85.71
MW Gatting (Eng) England 1986-1988 7 60 0 1 85.71
J Smits (Neth)Netherlands 2007-2009 7 6 0 01 85.71
P Utseya (Zim) Kenya 2008-20097 6 0 0 1 85.71
RT Ponting (Aus) South Africa 2002-2009 30 231 1 5 83.33
RGD Willis (Eng)England 1978-1983 12 10 0 02 83.33
ST Jayasuriya (SL) Sri Lanka 1998-200232 24 2 0 6 81.25
IVA Richards (WI) West Indies 1984-1991 26 192 0 5 80.76
JM Brearley (Eng)England 1977-1979 10 8 0 02 80.00
GC Smith (Afr/SA) South Africa 2004-201058 40 5 1 12 79.31
WJ Cronje (SA) South Africa 1994-2000 51 391 0 11 78.43
MS Atapattu (SL)Sri Lanka 2001-2006 27 20 1 06 77.77
GP Howarth (NZ) New Zealand 1980-198518 13 1 0 4 77.77
GC Smith (SA) West Indies 2005-2010 18 140 0 4 77.77
ADR Campbell (Zim)Kenya 1997-1999 9 7 0 02 77.77
Highest percentage of matches without a win as captain in a country - ODIs (minimum 7 matches)
Player Host Country Span Mat Won NRTied Lost %
T Taibu (Zim)Zimbabwe 2004-2005 16 0 0 016 100.00
MO Odumbe (Kenya) Kenya 1996-200110 0 0 0 10 100.00
Aminul Islam (Ban) Bangladesh 1999-2000 10 00 0 10 100.00
Khaled Mashud (Ban)Bangladesh 2001-2004 10 0 1 09 100.00
LRD Mendis (SL) Pakistan 1982-19879 0 0 0 9 100.00
Khaled Mashud (Ban) South Africa 2002-2003 9 01 0 8 100.00
S Chanderpaul (WI)West Indies 2005-2005 8 0 0 08 100.00
IVA Richards (WI) England 1980-19917 0 0 0 7 100.00
Khaled Mahmud (Ban) Bangladesh 2003-2003 7 00 0 7 100.00
HH Streak (Zim)Australia 2001-2004 16 1 1 014 93.75
LRD Mendis (SL) Australia 1985-198512 1 0 0 11 91.66
IH Romaine (Ber) Kenya 2006-2007 11 10 0 10 90.90
Mohammad Ashraful (Ban)Pakistan 2008-2008 10 1 0 09 90.00
A Flower (Zim) India 1993-19969 1 2 1 5 88.88
RJ Shastri (India) India 1987-1991 8 10 0 7 87.50
RS Madugalle (SL)Australia 1988-1988 8 1 0 07 87.50
SR Tendulkar (India) South Africa 1997-19978 1 1 1 5 87.50
SR Tendulkar (India) Australia 2000-2000 8 10 0 7 87.50
Habibul Bashar (Ban)Sri Lanka 2004-2005 8 1 0 07 87.50
P Utseya (Zim) West Indies 2007-20108 1 0 1 6 87.50
Javed Miandad (Pak) New Zealand 1985-1992 7 11 0 5 85.71
LRD Mendis (SL)India 1986-1987 7 1 0 06 85.71
MS Atapattu (SL) India 2005-20057 1 0 0 6 85.71
A Flintoff (Eng) India 2006-2006 7 10 0 6 85.71
JM Davison (Can)West Indies 2006-2007 7 1 0 06 85.71
Highest percentage of matches lost as captain in a country - ODIs (minimum 6 matches)
Player Host Country Span Mat Won NRTied Lost %
T Taibu (Zim)Zimbabwe 2004-2005 16 0 0 016 100.00
MO Odumbe (Kenya) Kenya 1996-200110 0 0 0 10 100.00
Aminul Islam (Ban) Bangladesh 1999-2000 10 00 0 10 100.00
LRD Mendis (SL)Pakistan 1982-1987 9 0 0 09 100.00
S Chanderpaul (WI) West Indies 2005-20058 0 0 0 8 100.00
IVA Richards (WI) England 1980-1991 7 00 0 7 100.00
Khaled Mahmud (Ban)Bangladesh 2003-2003 7 0 0 07 100.00
AJ Traicos (Zim) India 1987-19876 0 0 0 6 100.00
KC Wessels (SA) Pakistan 1994-1994 6 00 0 6 100.00
ADR Campbell (Zim)Sri Lanka 1996-1998 6 0 0 06 100.00
LRD Mendis (SL) Australia 1985-198512 1 0 0 11 91.66
IH Romaine (Ber) Kenya 2006-2007 11 10 0 10 90.90
Khaled Mashud (Ban)Bangladesh 2001-2004 10 0 1 09 90.00
Mohammad Ashraful (Ban) Pakistan 2008-200810 1 0 0 9 90.00
Khaled Mashud (Ban) South Africa 2002-2003 9 01 0 8 88.88
HH Streak (Zim)Australia 2001-2004 16 1 1 014 87.50
RJ Shastri (India) India 1987-19918 1 0 0 7 87.50
RS Madugalle (SL) Australia 1988-1988 8 10 0 7 87.50
SR Tendulkar (India)Australia 2000-2000 8 1 0 07 87.50
Habibul Bashar (Ban) Sri Lanka 2004-20058 1 0 0 7 87.50
LRD Mendis (SL) India 1986-1987 7 10 0 6 85.71
MS Atapattu (SL)India 2005-2005 7 1 0 06 85.71
A Flintoff (Eng) India 2006-20067 1 0 0 6 85.71
JM Davison (Can) West Indies 2006-2007 7 10 0 6 85.71
S Venkataraghavan (India)England 1975-1979 6 1 0 05 83.33

Statistics upto and including:
• Test # 1973: India v Australia at Bangalore, Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2nd Test, Oct 9-13, 2010
• ODI # 3059: South Africa v Zimbabwe at Potchefstroom, 2nd ODI, Oct 17, 2010

• T20I # 189: South Africa v Zimbabwe at Kimberley, 2nd T20I, Oct 10, 2010


Travis Basevi is a cricket statistician and UK Senior Programmer for Cricinfo and other ESPN sports websites