When we discuss people leading a Test side, the ideal candidate is always someone with ample experience, someone who has been in the team for some years and looks ready to take the leadership role. However, today we will see some of the youngest Test skippers in cricket's history.
1) Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)
✅ Youngest Test skipper
— ICC (@ICC) September 7, 2019
✅ Half-century
✅ Five wickets
👏👏
A brilliant Test captaincy debut for Rashid Khan! He takes the last wicket, bowling out Bangladesh for 205 in their first innings. The hosts trail by 137 runs.
Follow #BANvAFG ⬇️https://t.co/kHXVx32oOc pic.twitter.com/5vUszFIkeO
The Afghanistan spin master, Rashid Khan was just 20 years old when he was handed the captain's armband to lead the side in a Test match. He's the youngest (20y 350d) skipper in Test cricket history and his first game as the Afghanistan skipper was against Bangladesh at the Chattogram ground in Bangladesh on September 5 2019.
It was the only Test and Afghanistan won the test after scoring 342 in the first innings, courtesy of Rahmat Shah who scored 102 and Asghar Afghan who scored 92. Rashid Khan, the skipper scored a vital 51 as well.
In reply, Bangladesh had to score big but they only managed 205, with Mominul Haque scoring 52, while Mosaddek Hossain scored an unbeaten 48. Rashid Khan was the star with the ball as he picked five wickets, while Mohammad Nabi picked three.
Afghanistan then scored 260 in the second innings, with Ibrahim Zadran scoring 87, Asghar Afghan scoring 50, and Afsar Zazai scoring 48*. Bangladesh needed 398 to win but their innings was summed up at just 173.
Shadman Islam scored 41 and Shakib Al-Hasan scored 44, while the rest failed miserably, handing Afghanistan a 224 run victory.
2) Tatenda Taibu (Zimbabwe)
Untill 2004 when Tatenda Taibu was named the Zimbabwe skipper at 20 years and 358 days, #Pataudi remained the youngest test captain ever.
— Karuna John (@karunajohn) September 22, 2011
The Zimbabwean was the second youngest skipper in Test cricket history (20y 358d) when he led Zimbabwe against Sri Lanka at the Harare Ground in 2004 (May 6).
Sri Lanka had won the toss and they elected to field first. Zimbabwe's batting was bundled up for just 199, with Taibu scoring 40, while Prosper Utseya scored 45. For the visitors, Muttiah Muralitharan picked six wickets.
Sri Lanka replied with a mammoth total of 541. Marvan Atapattu scored 170, Sanath Jayasuriya scored 157, and Farveez Maharoof scored 40.
In the second innings, Zimbabwe's situation was exacerbated as they were all out for just 102. Nuwan Zoysa picked five wickets and the Lankans won by an innings and 240 runs.
3) Nawab of Pataudi (India)
Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, the Indian skipper, is conversing with the then Prime Minister Mr. Lal Bahadur Shastri, during the Delhi Test 1965.
— Cricfinity (@cricfinity) August 22, 2020
Photo courtesy: @NadunLiyanaged1 pic.twitter.com/eJcooUeES4
Nawab of Pataudi was just 21 years old when he led India in Test cricket against West Indies at Bridgetown, becoming India's youngest Test skipper (21y 77d). It was March 23 1962 and West Indies were fielding first after winning the toss.
India scored 258 in the first innings, with Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi scoring the most runs 48, with Salim Durani scoring an unbeaten 48.
Wes Hall picked 3 wickets. West Indies scored 475 in reply, with Conrad Hunte scoring 59, Rohan Kanhai scoring an unbeaten 89, Joe Solomon scoring 96, and Frank Worrell scoring 77.
In the second innings too, India failed to make an impact collectively as they were all out for 187, with Dilip Sardesai scoring 60, and Vijay Manjrekar scoring 51. However, India were all out for 187 and West Indies won the match by an innings and 30 runs.
4) Waqar Younis (Pakistan)
Younis was just 22y 15d old when he was announced as the Pakistan skipper. His first match as the Test skipper came against Zimbabwe at Karachi on December 1 1993.
Pakistan had won the toss and were batting first. In the first innings, Pakistan declared after registering 423/8. Aamer Sohail scored 63, Javed Miandad scored 70, Shoaib Mohammad scored 81, and Rashid Latif scored an unbeaten 68.
Zimbabwe managed only 289 in reply, with Alistair Campbell scoring 53, Dave Houghton scoring 46, and Andy Flower scoring 63. The young skipper Waqar Younis picked seven wickets, a milestone in its own as single-handedly destroyed Zimbabwe's batting.
In the second Innings, Pakistan declared after 131/3, with Inzamam Ul-Haq scoring an unbeaten 57. Zimbabwe needed 266 to win but were all out for just 134. Waqar Younis once again took the job in his hands and picked six wickets.
5) Graeme Smith (South Africa)
Most Test runs in a year as Captain
— ComeOn Cricket 🏏🇮🇳 (@ComeOnCricket) December 18, 2021
1656 - Graeme Smith (2008)
1606 - Joe Root (2021)*
1595 - Michael Clarke (2012)
1544 - Ricky Ponting (2005)#Ashes
The Proteas batsman was 22y 82d old when he was given the responsibility of leading South Africa. The match was against Bangladesh at Chattogram on April 24 2003.
The hosts had won the toss and were batting first. They managed only 173, with Habibul Bashar scoring 60 runs. Paul Adams picked a fifer. South Africa went on a rampage as they registered 470 runs losing just two wickets. They declared and the credit for the total went goes to Jacques Rudolph who scored 222* and Boeta Dippenaar who scored 177* after Herschelle Gibbs and Smith departed early.
Bangladesh were better this time but managed only 237, with Javed Omar scoring 71, Habibul Bashar scoring 75, while the rest failed to put up any big contributions. Consequently, Graeme Smith's South Africa won the match by an innings and 30 runs.
Do you see anyone from the current generation becoming the youngest captain ever? Let us know! Stay tuned with Cricwizz!
