Top 5 England captains of all time
The famous adage - An army of sheep led by a lion is better than an army of lions led by a sheep - highlights the importance of leadership across any discipline. Unlike most other major sports, the role of captain is extremely crucial to a team's fortunes in cricket. A strong skipper can seize those game-defining moments and pave the way for his side's victory through fastidious decision-making.
Also Read: Top 10 England cricketers of all-time
With a long and illustrious legacy in the sport, England have been fortunate enough to produce plenty of accomplished leaders. Let us now take a close look at five of the greatest captains to have led the traditional powerhouse in the international arena.
For obvious reasons, contributions to Ashes victories are accorded higher importance than leadership displays in other assignments.
#5 Andrew Strauss
Having lifted the World Cup that year, a well-oiled Indian team embarked on their 2011 tour of England with the intention of retaining their number one position in the Test rankings. The hosts, led by Andrew Strauss, humiliated them by winning the series 4-0 and usurped their crown.
The opener's resourceful leadership and adequate tactical knowledge went a long way in propelling England to the top of the Test table.
Strauss' captaincy journey makes for interesting reading. As a result of injuries to regular skipper Michael Vaughan as well as stand-in option Andrew Flintoff, he was given an early and unexpected taste of the captaincy in 2006.
When Flintoff led England to a disastrous tour of Australia, the leadership mantle once again came up for grabs. But Strauss's poor form with the bat resulted in him facing the axe.
After taking a brief hiatus from the game, Strauss returned to the team and sealed his slot at the top of the order.
Following the termination of a rather tumultuous relationship between Kevin Pietersen and coach Peter Moores, he was appointed captain on a permanent basis in January 2009. From there on, the southpaw never looked back. During the 2010/11 Ashes, he led England to their first series win on Australian soil since 1986.
Captaincy Record
Tests: 24 wins and 11 losses from 50 matches
ODIs: 27 wins and 33 losses from 62 matches
T20Is: 3 losses from 3 matches