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Cricket is a game of specialists, where the batsmen score runs and bowlers take the wickets. Of course, there are all-rounders who can do both jobs. However, there are several instances where the batsmen are seen taking up the ball to bring something different and claim a few crucial wickets to turn the tide of the game. 

Today at Cricwizz, we took a look at five batsman captains who were able to make a difference with the ball.

Marcus Trescothick

The England opener is known for his ability with the bat. However, he also used to keep wickets occasionally as well as bowl medium pace, claiming 4 ODI wickets to his name. In the 5th ODI match of the Natwest Tri-Series involving West Indies and New Zealand, the former England captain took the crucial wicket of West Indian batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan, who was well set at the crease at that time on 46. England won that match by 7 wickets.

 TestsODIs
Matches76123
Wickets14

Kane Williamson

The New Zealand captain is famed for his batting skills and is considered as one of the “Fab Four”, a list which includes the likes of Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, and Joe Root. However, He proved himself a handful with his off-spin bowling during the 2013 New Zealand tour of England. Williamson dismissed the dangerous Jos Buttler with the Kiwis winning the match by 5 wickets. Today the Kiwi skipper has over 30 tests and 37 ODI wickets to his name.

 TestsODIs
Matches8530
Wickets15137

Alastair Cook

Considered one of the greatest captains in the history of English cricket, He has also been arguably the best English batsman in the longest format of the game before the emergence of Joe Root. However, his ability to bowl was never put to test until he got a test wicket in the form of Ishant Sharma in the first test match of the India-England five test match series in 2014. The match ended in a draw and the wicket remains the sole international wicket of England's highest run-getter in the longest format.

 TestsODIs
Matches16192
Wickets10

Joe Root

One of the best batsmen among his contemporaries and also part of the “Fab Four”, Root is known for his ability to take the match out of the hands of the opposition. Making a mark with his batting, Joe Root shined with the ball in the 2021 England tour of India. With the pitch favoring spinning conditions, Joe Root bought himself on due to the lack of spinners in the team and claimed a fiver for just mere 8 runs in a staggering 6.2 overs with the pink ball. England however lost that match by a whopping 10 wickets.

The 30-year old went on break several records with his incredible fifer.

#The cheapest 5-for in the history of Test cricket

#It was also the first five-for by an England captain since Bob Willis' 5-35 against New Zealand back in 1983.

 TestsODIsT20Is
Matches10715232
Wickets38266

MS Dhoni

Considerably India’s greatest captain and a legend in the game. MS Dhoni made a great impact behind the wicket, keeping the gloves and also with the bat, finishing off games. However, during the 2009 ICC Champions Trophy series, India’s match against West Indies. Dhoni brought himself on to claim the stunning wicket of Travis Dowlin bowling him out cleanly, leaving the West Indies batting line-up reeling with five wickets down. West Indies won that match by 7 wickets.

 TestsODIsT20Is
Matches9035098
Wickets010

Skippers are always on the lookout for x-factors to make breakthroughs in the game, and coincidentally some find it in themselves. Achieving these feats doesn't come easy to many, as most captains selected are batsmen by trade. Let us know who your most favorite captain was and who impressed you the most with ball