Most Successful Captains in AWAY ODIs

Most Successful Captains in AWAY ODIs: There is a dream of a Captain is not only to make their team a winner at home, but also winner on foreign turf. There have been many captains since the advent of ODI cricket and many of them been successful in doing so.

Here is the list of 6 such captains who won most matches in foreign conditions.

6. 57 – Arjuna Ranatunga (Sri Lanka) Total: 145

1996 World Cup winner Arjuna Ranatunga won many games outside Sri Lanka in places like Sharjah, England, India, Australia and Pakistan. He won 57 games out of 145 played in his captaining He created a world beating team by bringing together talented individuals and assigning them specific roles and encouraged them to fulfill their roles to the maximum potential.
Ranatunga was also a very shrewd captain. He also backed his players to the max and once took off his team from the ground after umpire Darell Hair no balled Muralitharan for his action in a match in Australia in 1996. Ranatunga retired as captain after Sri Lanka’s failed 1999 World Cup campaign.

5. 58 – Sourav Ganguly (India) Total: 111

Former India captain and 2003 World Cup finalist Sourav Ganguly won 58 matches in 111 played outside India. He led India in places like Sri Lanka, Sharjah, England, Australia and won matches and series against the best teams in their homes.
Ganguly taught India to win in foreign conditions against top teams in the world. He gave Australia a run for their money in 2004, won the Nat West series in England chasing 325 in the final. Won tournaments in Sharjah, Kenya, beat Pakistan in Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka. He last captained India in 2005 against Zimbabwe and retired from the game in 2008.

4. 59 – Clive Lloyd (West Indies) Total: 77

West Indian Captain Clive Lloyd won 57 matches out of 77 played outside the Caribbean nations. He triumphed in England winning the first two World Cups in 1975 and 1979 and played the finals of the 1983 World Cup. Lloyd led one of the best teams in the 1970s and 1980s until his retirement in 1985. He played and won matches in Australia, England, New Zealand, India and Pakistan. His team’s success in India and Pakistan is admired very much because it was difficult to win in subcontinent due to the impact of India and Pakistan spinners.

3. 60 – Hansie Cronje (South Africa) Total: 87

Former South African captain late Hansie Cronje won 60 out of 87 matches played outside South Africa. Before he confessed his involvement in match fixing in 2000 and died in 2002 in a plane crash, he led South Africa from 1994-2000.
He made South Africa a world beating team, which they continue to be. South Africa beat West Indies, Australia, England, Pakistan and India in their homes. He won matches in Bangladesh, Kenya, and Sharjah.

2. 66 – MS Dhoni (India) Total: 126

Indian Captain MS Dhoni has won matches and series all over the world. He has 66 matches out of 126 played outside India. He has won series in Australia, England, matches in South Africa, New Zealand, Zimbabwe and other nations.

Quick Link : 10 best quotes on MS Dhoni’s captaincy by Cricketing Legends

Probably the most innovative ODI captains India has ever produced, he won the 2011 World Cup, 2007 T20 World Cup in South Africa and multiple matches and series in other countries. His biggest test has been the ongoing World Cup 2015 in Australia and New Zealand.

1. 104 – Ricky Ponting (Australia) Total: 141

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting won 101 matches out of 141 played. He won matches in India, South Africa, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Sharjah, England and New Zealand. He won the 2003 and 2007 World Cups in South Africa and West Indies respectively.

Ponting probably led one of the best teams in world since Clive Lloyd led the West Indian team in 1970s and 1980s. Ricky Ponting always led from the front whether he was batting or fielding or making strategies. He led players like Glen McGrath, Shane Warne, Matthew Hayden, Brett Lee, Adam Gilchrist and Mike Hussey.

*All stats updated till 14th March 2015.