Ranking Test Cricket's Captains on Their Leadership Qualities

Cricket captaincy is never easy. As well as worrying about your own game, you also have to think about your team-mates, tactics and the opposition.

Ranking the current Test captains is not easy either.

While you can look at their statistical performances when in charge, including their team's record, you also have to take into consideration intangibles that are needed in leadership roles.

Of course, captains can be made to look even better when they have star players in their line-up. Being in charge of the West Indies was an easier job when they boasted a battery of fast bowlers decades ago.

Likewise, several captains of Australia were able to benefit from having both Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne in the same attack.

So, during the evaluation process, it was important to evaluate the talent levels each skipper has at their disposal.

Let's begin the countdown. As ever, remember you can air your view on the rankings by using the comments section. 

10. Brendan Taylor (Zimbabwe)

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Brendan Taylor made the perfect start to his reign with Zimbabwe, leading them to victory over Bangladesh in his first Test in charge back in 2011.

Since then, though, wins have been hard to come by. There have been just two in the past 15 outings, and they were most recently swept 3-0 on their tour of Bangladesh.

Taylor has done his bit with the bat since taking over, averaging 46.56. His four Test centuries have also come when he has been skipper, an impressive effort considering he also keeps wicket.

His leadership skills are undermined by the fact Zimbabwe lack the quality to compete in the longest form of the game.

9. Mushfiqur Rahim (Bangladesh)

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Mushfiqur Rahim enjoyed a double celebration after the third Test win over Zimbabwe in Nov. 2014. Not only did it complete a first-ever series sweep for Bangladesh, it also made him their longest-serving captain.

The wicketkeeper-batsman has been in charge for 19 matches in total, with his four wins—all against Zimbabwe—making him his country's most successful skipper.

His batting average has increased by 15 runs since he took over from team-mate Shakib Al Hasan in 2011. At 26, it seems feasible to think Mushfiqur is only just entering his prime years, too.

He was first called up by the national team at the tender age of 16 and has had to learn the hard way for a Bangladesh side that has struggled since being given Test status in 2000.

While small in stature, Mushfiqur is a determined character who has had to cope with plenty of lows and has already worked with a plethora of coaches, during his career.

The fact he is no longer leading the Tigers in limited-overs cricket may actually be beneficial to his Test leadership.

8. Virat Kohli (India)

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Virat Kohli finds himself at this position in the list because he is still in the early stages of his captaincy career.

The batsman took over for the final match in the recent series in Australia after former skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni decided to bring the curtain down on his Test career.

The early signs for Kohli are promising; in his two matches in charge, he has scored three centuries in four innings, including two in the same match in Adelaide when he was standing in for the suspended Dhoni.

He had led his country before in limited-overs action, and if his leadership ideas follow his batting style, Kohli will be far more aggressive in his approach than his predecessor.

The 26-year-old also showed his character by bouncing back from a miserable tour of England in 2014, returning to form in emphatic fashion on the tough trip to Australia.

7. Denesh Ramdin (West Indies)

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Astonishingly, Denesh Ramdin had played under six different Test skippers before he was given the job to lead West Indies.

He has been in charge for eight matches so far; there have been three wins, four losses and a draw during his reign. None of his successes, though, have come away from the Caribbean.

Ramdin has previous captaincy experience after leading Trinidad and Tobago in domestic action.

His batting form has dropped a little since his appointment, while it is draining to both keep wicket and captain a team.

The wicketkeeper-batsman has long owned a reputation as an "astute tactician," per Tony Cozier's profile of the player for ESPN Cricinfo, and he was promoted to the top job after previously being Darren Sammy's vice-captain.

He faces a major challenge in trying to restore West Indies as a force in Test cricket, no matter how rounded he is as a leader on the field.

6. Hashim Amla (South Africa)

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Hashim Amla was given the tough task of following Graeme Smith as captain of South Africa.

It is early days yet, but the batsman has made a promising start. In his six matches in charge, Amla has yet to taste defeat, winning four Tests and drawing the other two.

The extra responsibility of leading has not been detrimental to his batting thus far; the right-hander averages more than 77 since being named skipper, including hitting two centuries.

He is fortunate to have in his team the pace pairing of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel. The two bowlers make life extremely uncomfortable for the opposition but make a captain's lot a little easier.

Amla, South Africa's first permanent non-white Test captain, always seems unflappable and adaptable at the crease—it would seem likely that his captaincy style will follow suit.

The Proteas look to be in reliable hands with someone who will rule with a smile, rather than a scowl.

5. Alastair Cook (England)

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Alastair Cook can now focus all his efforts on captaining England in Test cricket.

His removal as ODI skipper may actually be of benefit for the opening batsman, particularly with a gruelling schedule coming up that includes an Ashes series on home soil and a winter tour to South Africa.

The 30-year-old has enjoyed some ups and endured some downs since taking over from former opening partner Andrew Strauss.

He has experienced both victory and defeat in battles with Australia, while the sacking of Kevin Pietersen has left him facing constant questions about the absence of England's leading run scorer in all formats.

At least his average with the bat has remained at a similar level through all the trials and tribulations, even if his last Test hundred was back in May 2013.

Cook is not a leader who looks to inspire with words (you just have to listen to his post-match interviews to confirm that) but instead looks to set an example through his dedication and determination.

He is perhaps cautious in his approach, more methodical than some of his counterparts. However, he still has a winning record and has helped steer England through a rocky, transitional period.

4. Misbah-Ul-Haq (Pakistan)

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Misbah-ul-Haq has revelled in leading Pakistan, a role he was appointed to at the age of 36.

Still going strong as skipper at 40, the batsman has never had the chance to lead his country in Pakistan. Security concerns mean they have needed to find a new home in the United Arab Emirates.

Misbah averages just shy of 60 in his time in charge and has given the team stability at the helm after the previous three skippers spanned a grand total of seven Tests.

The reason for the longevity? Misbah never seems to get too fazed by anything, whether it is guiding his team in the field or when he is out in the middle with a bat in his hand.

In one-day cricket, he seems to have two gears, first and fifth, when he is batting. In Test cricket, he can take all the time he likes, though he owns the record for the fastest century scored in the format.

However, he always puts the team first—he recently dropped himself from the 50-over team due to a lack of runs.

3. Angelo Mathews (Sri Lanka)

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Captaincy can be a burden to some, but for others the added responsibility can inspire. The latter has certainly been the case for Angelo Mathews.

Since taking over as Sri Lanka skipper, the all-rounder has scored 1,525 runs at a superb average of 76.25.

He had scored just one century in his first 31 Test appearances for his country—in the last 15, he has made three, one of which was a match-saving 157 not out against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi.

Impressive performances with the bat, including two hundreds in the fine series win in England, have been crucial in helping Mathews stamp his authority on the team. 

He seems a cool, collected character most of the time, making him ideal to lead, but Joe Root certainly got under his skin at Headingley.

Mathews may have come close to crossing the line during the spat, with umpire Billy Bowden having to step in to try and calm the situation, per the Daily Mail, but it also showed he is no soft touch.

2. Brendon McCullum (New Zealand)

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Brendon McCullum has overcome a slow start to thrive as captain of New Zealand.

He failed to register a win in his first 10 Tests after taking over from previous incumbent Ross Taylor. Since that lean run, however, the Kiwis have recorded eight victories in their last 12 matches.

McCullum's leadership style has similar traits to his batting—he is brave, aggressive and willing to take a risk in order to prosper.

Perhaps taking a leaf out of former captain Stephen Fleming's book, the 33-year-old often thinks outside the box in the field, knowing that he lacks real star quality in his bowling attack.

During the series against Pakistan in 2014, he showed a willingness to be flexible, too, moving himself up to open the innings to aid the overall balance of the team.

Whatever position in the order he batted during the last year, he excelled, scoring a superb total of 1,164 runs.

McCullum is the kind of leader you respect and admire, even if you are in the opposing side.

1. Michael Clarke (Australia)

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Topping our list is Michael Clarke, even if Australia's captain did end up watching most of the recent series against India from the sidelines (or commentary box).

The batsman took over from Ricky Ponting and steered his country through a transitional period to rise back up the ICC rankings—they currently sit second in the table.

Since being put in charge, Clarke has also seen his batting average rise—he has hit 14 hundreds in 40 Tests as skipper, the same number he had hit in his previous 68 appearances.

His most recent Test century saw him defy a back injury to make 128 against India in Adelaide, while on the tour to South Africa in 2014, Clarke overcame a barrage from Morne Morkel to hit 161 in the series decider.

However, perhaps Clarke showed his true leadership qualities following the death of team-mate Phillip Hughes.

He read out the family statement after Hughes had died two days after being struck by a bouncer, then also delivered a moving eulogy at the funeral when the batsman was laid to rest in his home town of Macksville.

Clarke's strength during such a difficult time was admirable, proving he leads by example on and off the field. It can only be hoped now that injury does not cut short his international career.