Top 5 Youngest test captains in cricket history

Top 5 Youngest test captains in cricket history: Captaincy is a role of responsibility, pressure and control. One never expects a youngster and a new entrant in the team to be handed over the role. You first need to prove yourself as a player and a team man for some years,, with commendable performances before being considered for the job. But, here we have 5 players who have beaten the odds and become the top 5 youngest test captains in cricket history. This includes the likes of Indian legend Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi (Nawab Pataudi) to Zimbabwean Tatenda Taibu. They were raw, young and with no big experience of test cricket either. But, still most of them turned out into the best captains the countries have ever had. Take a look at the top 5 youngest test captains in cricket history. 5. Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh) 22 years 115 days Shakib Al Hasan tosses the coin for the first time as a test captain (Photo Source: Getty Images) Shakib Al Hasan is the best all-round cricketer the country has produced a left-hand batsman and left-arm spinner. Shakib is also the youngest captain from Bangladesh as he was elected the skipper aged 22 years and 115 days. He is known in the world of cricket for his sharp, accurate and wicket taking bowling and effective batting at number 5. The high points in Shakib’s career were when under him Bangladesh won their first ever overseas test series, the moment he became the first player from the country to hit 5 hundreds and when Shakib was ranked as the best all-rounder in ICC all-rounders ranking. 4. Graeme Smith (South Africa) 22 years 82 days Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers. (© Gallo Images/Getty Images) Graeme Smith is one of the best things and skippers that have happened to South African cricket. Smith who took over the reins from all-rounder Shaun Pollock was just 22 years and 82 days old. A left-hand opening batman Smith led the batting and team upfront and recovered the team from the darkness of match fixing former skipper Hansie Cronje had put South African cricket in. Smith is one of the most successful batsmen and captain South African cricket has ever had. Under his leadership the team achieved all-time highs by becoming the number one ranked test and ODI team. 3. Waqar Younis (Pakistan) 22 years 15 days Pakistani Captain Waqar Younis leads the team out on the field (Photo Source: Vic Isaacs / © Victor Isaacs) Waqar Younis the former Pakistan right-arm fast bowler is famously known for being the man behind the development and effective use of the reverse swing bowling. The Pakistan management made him test captain against Zimbabwe at Karachi in 1993 when Waqar was 22 years, 15 days old and became the youngest player from Pakistan to become captain of the test team. He did not have a very successful stay as skipper. In his career Waqar Younis played 87 test matches for Pakistan and picked up 373 wickets. He along with Wasim Akram formed one of the best fast bowling unit world cricket has witnessed. 2. Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi (India) 21 years 77 days Portrait of youngest indian test captain Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi (Nawab) (Photo Source: PA Photos) Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi hailing from a Royal Family and being the Nawab himself late Mansoor Ali Khan not only played test cricket for India but also captained the team and became the youngest Indian cricketer to become the skipper aged 21 years 77 days when he was handed over the job. Nawab captained the Indian team in 40 matches and under him the Indian team recorded their first ever overseas test victory against New Zealand in 1967. One of the most respectable Indian player and skipper MAK Pataudi died on 22nd September 2011 aged 70 years. 1. Tatenda Taibu (Zimbabwe) 20 years 358 days Tatenda Taibu looks at the field after another defeat with a large margin (Photo Source: ESPNcricinfo Ltd) Tatenda Taibu is the youngest cricketer to captain a national test team. Taibu the Zimbabwean wicket-keeper batsman who is barely 5 feet tall impressed everyone in the early part of his career. Debuted in 2001 and got the captaincy role in 2005 at the age of 20 years and 358 days when Heath Streak left the chair vacant. Taibu played 28 test matches for Zimbabwe and scored 1546 runs; took 57 catches and affected 5 stumpings. *All stats updated till 8th September 2016