The game of cricket has given us countless legends. Who could forget Sachin Tendulkar, AB De Villiers and Ricky Pointing? All outstanding batsmen and entertainers par excellence.
Shane Warne and Murali Muralitheran were not just spinners… they were magicians who could bamboozle any batsman at the crease. Just ask Darryl Cullinan, an accomplished batter who became ‘Warne’s bunny’. The big sledging Aussie could literally bowl him out at will with a trademark flipper, googly or wrong’un.
Then there were the quick men like Glen McGrath, Wasim Akram and Courtney Walsh, men who were capable of bowling the perfect line and length at enormous pace. Batsmen who failed to follow the ball had to wear it on the helmet, on the box or neatly between the ribs!
Although these men are past their prime there’s a new squad of youngsters who are stirring things up. The big guns of world cricket are on the rampage… but who are the captains with the best instinct to win?
Virat Kohli
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India’s
Virat Kohli is a master batsman and outstanding captain. He’s dominated the IPL as a leader and shattered so many test records he probably deserves a record book of his own. The precociously talented batter has brought huge self belief and aggression to the Indian national team.
His shrewd tactical moves and attention to detail have seen Kohli as captain win 21 tests out of 35. The added responsibility has spurred him on to even greater heights as a batsman, so for this we slot him in at the number one spot!
Faf Du Plessis
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Calm, astute and always composed Faf Du Plessis is exactly the type of captain South Africa needs. He champions transformation in cricket and is always available to help young bowlers find their feet with a quiet reassuring word and a supportive field.
Du Plessis has excelled in the role as leader and top order batsman. His catches in the slips and at point are often breathtaking to behold. Fast and nippy on the field Du Plessis is a rock at the crease and is capable of playing a long innings or crisp shots that fly right over the boundary riders’ heads. He has won 15 of the 25 tests he has captained and accordingly earns our number two captain ranking.
Joe Root
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England’s
Joe root is a batsman extraordinaire. He also has the makings of a fine captain. The young Yorkshire man had to fill the big shoes of Alastair Cook and to date he has won six of the 16 test matches he has played as captain.
Root is renowned for his patience and stubbornness at the crease but once he gets going, he’s a flamboyant entertainer with a penchant to thrill. As a man who can rack up the runs on any surface and has the respect of all the team members, Root is our third best captain in 2018.
Kane Williamson
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New Zealand’s
Kane Williamson is a pillar of strength in the national side. He’s a great batter and slip catcher but it’s his tactical nous and mental strength that makes him our number four captain in 2018.
Calm and steady at the crease Kane is the kind of man who prizes his wicket. He has bagged nine test victories out of 17 and in the absence of Steve Smith; he’s by far the best cricketer from the Antipodes.
If you’re captaining an emerging national side like Nigeria, Ireland or Holland, we urge you to take a leaf out of our best captains’ books!
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