Top 5 most successful England captains in test cricket

Six England captains have led the side to over 20 wins in test cricket.

The England Cricket Team is one of the oldest and successful teams in test cricket. They played the first ever test cricket match in 1877 against Australia.

For a team to succeed, they need a strong-minded captain to lead them. Over the years, England have been blessed with some of the greats to lead them in the longest format of the game. So far, England have seen five players who have captained the side in more than 50 tests. Some of them have been very successful, while some not.

Among them, some have led the side to multiple test match and series wins over the years.

On that note, let’s take a look at the top five most successful England captains in test cricket.

Top 5 most successful England captains in test cricket

5. Ben Stokes- 22 wins

Ben Stokes grabs fifth spot on this list. The England all-rounder has captained England in 36 tests so far, leading the team to 22 victories and 13 defeats, while only one game ended in a draw. Stokes took over as England’s full-time test captain in 2022.

4. Andrew Strauss – 24 wins

Former England batsman Andrew Strauss led England to 24 victories in test cricket. He captained the team in 50 tests during his tenure from 2006 to 2012. England also lost 11 games, while 15 encounters ended in a draw under Strauss’ leadership. Strauss played 100 games for his team in the longest format of the game.

3. Alastair Cook – 24 wins

Former England opener Alastair Cook captained England in 59 tests during his career. He led the team to 24 victories and 22 defeats, while 13 matches ended in a draw. He played 161 tests during his entire career, finishing as England’s then highest run-scorer in test cricket, only to be overtaken by Joe Root later.

2. Michael Vaughan – 26 wins

Next on the list is Michael Vaughan, who captained England in 51 test matches. Under his leadership, England won 26 games and lost 11 matches, while 14 ended in a draw. He held the reins of the test team from 2003 to 2008.

1. Joe Root – 27 wins

Joe Root is the most successful England captain in test cricket. Root led England in 64 tests from 2017 to 2022. England won 27 games and lost 26 matches, while 11 matches ended in a draw under his leadership. Root resigned from test captaincy in April 2022.

(All stats updated till 18th July, 2025)

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