Top 10 Best Test Captain in the World | Ranked

In the modern world of Test Cricket, the captain's service is more than just a title. It represents leadership, resilience, and strategic brilliance. A good test captain not only encourages the team to lead through difficult situations, but also to surpass their skills. As we approached 2025, the struggle for the world best test captain has been getting more intense.

Every captain introduces their special style on the ground, which affects not only the results of the match but also the spirit of the game. Test cricket demands a patient, strategically aware, and adaptable leader who can use their sharp mind during crucial circumstances, qualities that set the greats apart from the normal captain.

List of World Best Test Captain - Updated 2025

The world of cricket has seen a number of captains leading their side, but the real test for all the captains comes in test cricket, where maintaining the winning records as a captain is not an easy task. Here is the list of the top 10 best test captain in the world 2025 which answer who is the best captain in test cricket.

Who is the Best Captain in Test Cricket?

Over the years, we have seen some of the best captains in world cricket. Especially doing captaining in test matches is all a different ball game. It takes a lot of courage and patience. In this article, we are ranking all the best test captains in the world currently and try to answer the question who is the best captain in test cricket.

10. Shan Masood (Pakistan)

Shan Masood's route to becoming Pakistan's Test captain in 2025 has demonstrated his endurance and dedication. Masood was appointed in November 2023 following the retirement of Babar Azam. He had immediate hurdles, including a 3-0 series loss in Australia and a historic 2-0 home defeat against Bangladesh. These defeats strained his leadership and the team's morale.

However, Masood's dedication paid off during the home series against England in October 2024. After losing the first Test, he guided Pakistan to a straight victory in the second and third Tests, giving Pakistan its first home Test series win since February 2021. Masood's versatility and power of motivation have put him on the list of the world best test captains. In his captaincy tenure, he led the side for 12 matches where he won 2 matches and 9 matches ended in loosing side, he has winning percentage of 25. In upcoming years, he will surely become more experienced and versatile as a captain.

9. Hashmatullah Shahidi (Afghanistan)

Hashmatullah Shahidi has been one of the world best test captains is a credit to his calm and composed leadership nature and batting ability. Shahidi has led by example since taking over Afghanistan's Test team in 2021, smashing records and making his place in cricket history. Shahidi made a record-breaking 246 in a Test against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo in December 2024, breaking the record for the highest individual Test score by an Afghan batsman.

Shahidi's captaincy has not been only about individual success but about building team strength as well. Under him, Afghanistan cricket has been the most developed associate nation in world cricket. They have been performing exceptionally in the white ball format, and they will surely be one of the finest test-playing nations in the future, with the kind of support staff they have and owing to their cricketing development. In his captaincy tenure, he led the side for 5 matches he winning 1 match, 3 draws, and 1 match ended in a loss. He has a winning percentage of 20.

8. Shubman Gill (India)

Shubman Gill, Prince of Cricket, has become the new full-time Indian Test captain. He was given the role of captaincy at the start of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Gill is leading the Indian test side with a full lineup of youngsters in the absence of big star players of the Indian cricket team. With the role of leadership, Gill has positioned himself to play at number 4 in tests, where earlier the spot was taken by former Indian skipper Virat Kohli. Gill has seen in a different kind of touch with the addition of leadership responsibility, where he has been performing well and has scored his highest score of 269 in test cricket.

In his short test career as a captain, he has captained the side for 3 matches, where he led India to a historic win in Birmingham, where India had never won. He has faced a couple of losses, where one match at Lord's was neck to neck. Indian Batsman Shubman Gill brings a similar kind of fearless approach like Virat Kohli in the test team and will be looking forward to ruling the world of test cricket in the near future.

7. Aiden Markram (South Africa)

South African batsman Aiden Markram's rise to among the world best test captains is a story of hard work, tactical genius, and exceptional leadership quality. Markram guided South Africa to a historic seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium while serving as stand-in captain during the team's tour in 2024. He also won the second test match with winning the series.

This ended South Africa's 10-game drought in the subcontinent, and it was their first Test win in 15 matches since 2014. He led South Africa to the final of the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, where the team had an impeccable record. His ability to create trust and confidence in a young and inexperienced team has been critical for the Rainbow Nation. He so far has a 100% record as a test captain, winning two out of two games.

6. Dhananjay de Silva (Sri Lanka)

Dhananjaya de Silva's rise to become one of the best Test captains in the world is a work of his determination, strategic brilliance, and inspiring leadership. Since taking over from Dimuth Karunaratne in January 2024, de Silva has revitalised Sri Lanka's Test squad, leading them through a time of transformation and remarkable success. Under his leadership, Sri Lanka won a historic Test against England at The Oval in September 2024, their first on English soil in a decade.

It was the best moment for the middle-order batting as one of the "happiest moments" of his career, showcasing the significance of the win for both himself and the squad. In the first Test in Sylhet, he hit a century in both innings, making him the first Sri Lankan skipper to do so. His ability to inspire and bring out the best cricketing ability from his teammates makes him ranked as the 6th best Test captain in the world. So far, in his captaincy tenure, he led the side for 14 matches where he won 6 matches and losing 6 matches, he has winning percentage of 42.85.

5. Tom Latham (New Zealand)

Tom Latham's appointment as New Zealand's Test captain in late 2024 represented a historic moment in Kiwi cricket history. Following Tim Southee's retirement, Latham faced the daunting task of guiding a squad in transition. Nonetheless, under his calm and deliberate leadership, New Zealand completed a stunning 3-0 Test series sweep over India on their home turf, an unwanted record in Indian cricket history.

The win against the Men in Blue not only ended the home side's 12-year home series winning streak but also showcased Latham's strategic mindset. Despite the absence of former skipper Kane Williamson, Latham's faith in rising prospects such as batsman Will Young, who amassed and won the Player of the Series award, proved crucial for the Kiwis. In his captaincy tenure, he led the side for 15 matches where he won 8 matches and 7 matches ended in loosing side, he has winning percentage of 53.33. He created an amazing environment to inspire and bring out the 100% performances from his team, even in the face of adversity, which has made him rank as the 5th-best Test captain in the world.

4. Steve Smith (Australia)

Australian batter Steve Smith's comeback as Test captain is one of cricket's most fascinating redemption stories. Smith, who was sidelined following the 2018 ball-tampering controversy, has restored himself as a tactical maestro and batting genius in red ball format, and he reclaims as one of the world's top Test captains. Smith led Australia to a dominant 2-0 series victory over Sri Lanka in early 2025, marking the team's first Asian series whitewash in nearly two decades.

He led the side well in the absence of Pat Cummins, and his performance with the bat was outstanding, scoring hundreds in both Tests and becoming the first Australian to reach 200 Test catches. Smith's batting as captain is as impressive. With 16 centuries in 68 innings, he has a conversion rate of about 25%, surpassing legends such as Ricky Ponting and Virat Kohli. In his captaincy tenure, he led the side for 40 matches where he won 23 matches and 10 matches ended in loosing side, he has winning percentage of 57.5. Australia does not have to worry if Cummins is missing out, as they have one of the best test captains in the world.

3. Temba Bavuma (South Africa)

Proteas batsman Temba Bavuma's rise to become the world's 3rd best Test captain showcases his dedication, analytical skill, and inspirational leadership. Since taking over as captain of South Africa's Test squad in February 2023, Bavuma has shown a stunning quality, leading the Proteas to new heights in the longest format of the game. South Africa has won nine and drawn one of ten Test matches under his captaincy, for a remarkable victory percentage of 90%. He contributed in winning the WTC 2025 for South Africa.

This impressive record positions him alongside cricket icons Warwick Armstrong and Lindsay Hassett, both of whom won eight of their first nine Tests as leaders. Bavuma's leadership was crucial in South Africa securing their place in their maiden World Test Championship final, following a commanding 2-0 series whitewash against Pakistan. During the series against Sri Lanka, Bavuma became the first captain to score four 50-plus scores in a two-match Test series.

2. Ben Stokes (England)

English all-rounder Ben Stokes has transformed England's Test cricket environment, ranking himself as one of the best captain in test. Since taking over in 2022, Stokes has converted a weak team into a powerful force, implementing a bold and aggressive style known as "Bazball." England has accomplished great exploits during their captaincy, including a historic 3-0 series victory in Pakistan, their first in the country.

In his captaincy tenure, he led the side for 34 matches where he won 21 matches and 12 matches ended in losing side he has a winning percentage of 25. His leadership has also seen England successfully chase targets of more than 250 runs five times, breaking the previous record held by Former Indian keeper MS Dhoni. His innings in the final test of the Ashes series will be one of the best knocks in 2019. His attacking cricket mindset has not only brought success but has also changed the playing style in the traditional format, where he is the player with the most sixes in test cricket.

1. Pat Cummins (Australia)

Right-arm pacer Pat Cummins has established himself as the best captain in Test. He has led the Kangaroos to unmatched triumph in the ODI and test formats. Under his captaincy, Australia clinched the World Test Championship 2021-2023, the ODI World Cup 2023, and reclaimed the Ashes, achieving all this since he took on the captaincy in November 2021, showcasing his mastery as a leader across formats.

Cummins' leadership style is characterised by a calm and composed nature, resulting in a cohesive and focused cricketing environment. His ability to motivate via acts rather than words has been critical to Australia's rebirth in ODI and test format. In his captaincy tenure, he led the side for 34 matches, winning 20 and 8 matches ended in losing. He has a winning percentage of 58.82. Under his leadership, Australia reclaimed the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after a decade. Cummins' remarkable leadership has been recognised with various prizes in 2023, including the Sir Garfield Sobers Award for ICC Men's Cricketer of the Year and Wisden's Leading Cricketer. No Doubt, he is the best captain in the world.

Who is the Best Test Captain in the World of All Time?

Graeme Smith is the Best Test Captain in the World of all time, where he has captained the South African test team for more than a decade, where his captaincy tenure was during 2003 to 2014. He led the test team for 109 test matches, which is the most number of test matches by any player as a captain. He has been exceptionally well in leading the side in the longest format of the game, where he changed the cricket landscape in South Africa and made them a dominant side in test cricket. He has won 53 matches and faced a defeat in 29 matches, whereas 27 times matches ended in a draw under his captaincy. He has a remarkable winning percentage of 48.62% in test cricket, which is an impressive one after captaining the side for more than 100 matches. He is the best test captain in the world without any doubt for his remarkable performance in the world of cricket.

How We Ranked The Best Test Captain In the World - Ranking Factor

The responsibility of a Test captain is crucial in deciding the success of a cricket team. We have ranked the top 10 best test captain in the world based on some ranking factors, to rank them accurately and fairly. The ranking factors follow as:

• Win Percentage in Test Matches: The win percentage in test matches is the percentage of matches won over the number of test matches played by the player as a captain. It is a direct measure of success where a higher win percentage across a significant number of matches reflects strong leadership and ability of the player to lead the team to win the matches in the longest format of the game.
• Overseas Test Wins & Series Victories: The overseas test wins and series victories help in understanding the ability of the captain to win the test match away from home. The test captains who led their teams to series wins in foreign conditions like SENA countries, which involve South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia, help them earn extra credit as the playing conditions are difficult.
• Team Development & Longevity: The team development and longevity show how well the captain has taken the team to success in test cricket and has improved overall team dynamics. It involves an impact on grooming future stars, improving team culture, and sustaining long-term success, which enables a player to be the best test captain in the world.
• ICC Test Rankings Under Captaincy: The ICC test ranking of the team under the captaincy of the player shows the player's skill to lead the team well in test cricket to make them reach the top ICC rankings. It involves whether the team has reached or maintained a high ICC Test ranking during their tenure as the captain, which is measured by the overall success of the team.
• Performance Under Pressure: The performance under pressure shows the level of game and skills of leadership during the pressure moments, where the captain has to keep calm and doesn't lose the match under pressure. It involves the key wins in difficult situations like away tours, deciders, and matches with injury-hit squads, which actually test the captain on how he will lead in these situations.
• Impact in Iconic or Historic Series: The best test captain in the world should have an impact in iconic or historic series, where they have won major series like the World Test Championship, Ashes, BGT, and other series to be on top in test cricket. This helps in understanding the ability of the captain to lead the team in unforgettable or turning-point series and make them win.