Captain (cricket)

Ricky Ponting (left) is the most successful ICC tournament-winning captain, having won 2 Cricket World Cups and 2 Champions Trophies as captain. MS Dhoni (right) is the only captain to win all 3 ICC limited-overs tournaments - The Cricket World Cup, the Champions Trophy and the T20 World Cup.

Clive Lloyd (left) is the first captain to win 2 Cricket World Cups alongside being the tournament's first ever victorius captain, while Darren Sammy (right) is the only captain to win 2 T20 World Cups.

Graeme Smith (left) holds the record for most Test matches as captain, as well as most Test wins.^[1] Steve Waugh (right) is the most successful Test captain, with a winning ratio of 72%.^[2]

Some countries opt for a split captaincy, with different captains for different formats to manage workload. Pat Cummins (left) captains Australia in Tests and ODIs, while Mitchell Marsh (right) leads the team in T20Is.

The captain of a cricket team, often referred to as the skipper,^[3] is the appointed leader, having several additional roles and responsibilities over and above those of the other players. As in other sports, the captain is usually experienced and has good communication skills, and is likely to be one of the most regular members of the team, as the captain is responsible for the team selection. Before the game the captains toss for innings. During the match the captain decides the team's batting order, who will bowl each over, and where each fielder will be positioned. While the captain has the final say, decisions are often collaborative. A captain's knowledge of the complexities of cricket strategy and tactics, and shrewdness in the field, may contribute significantly to the team's success.

Due to the smaller coaching/management role played out by support staff, as well as the need for greater on-field decision-making, the captain of a cricket team typically shoulders more responsibility for results than team captains in other sports.^[4]