Temba Bavuma, the Test captain of South Africa, became the first captain of the Proteas to win the World Test Championship (WTC) mace. In the 2025 WTC final at Lord’s, South Africa made history by defeating Australia.
In the first innings, Australia were bowled out for 212, with Kagiso Rabada taking five wickets. In response, South Africa was eliminated with 138. They were given a target of 282 runs in the fourth innings, but their bowlers once again held their own, dismissing Australia for 207.
The Proteas, on the fourth day, crossed the line by five wickets with a sparkling century by Aiden Markram (136) and a decisive semblance by skipper Temba Bavuma (66) making the Proteas win historic at Lord. This was a big occasion not only of South Africa as a cricketing nation but also as a captain, Temba Bavuma.
On that point, here are the top six captains who had the best record in their first ten Test matches as captain.
Temba Bavuma's start to Test captaincy is now the best *ever*.
First 10 matches, W-D-L:
🇿🇦 T Bavuma (2023-25): 9-1-0
🏴 P Chapman (1926-30): 9-0-1
🇦🇺 W Armstrong (1920-21): 8-2-0
🏴 J Douglas (1911-14): 8-1-1
🇦🇺 L Hassett (1949-51): 8-1-1
🇦🇺 R Ponting (2004-05): 8-1-1 pic.twitter.com/0EmLgcAO1K
— Rahul (@exceedingxpuns) June 14, 20251. Temba Bavuma
South African captain Temba Bavuma made it to this list with a victory in the 2025 WTC final. He has the best record as the captain in his first ten Tests and is the best. Temba Bavuma debuted in Test cricket playing for South Africa in 2014, and has already accrued 64 matches.
He has only captained the Proteas in 10 Test matches thus far, though, having only been appointed Test captain in 2023. Temba Bavuma’s tenure as captain of the format has gotten off to an incredible start. With Temba Bavuma as captain, South Africa has won nine of the 10 games they have played and lost one Test match due to a draw.
2. Percy Chapman
Former England batter, skipper, and late Percy Chapman is ranked second among captains with the best record in their first ten Tests at the helm. Chapman played 26 games during his career, making his Test debut for England in 1924.
From 1926 to 1931, he captained England in 17 Test matches, winning nine, losing two, and drawing six. Chapman won nine games and lost only one in his first ten Test matches as captain.
3. Warwick Armstrong
Late Warwick Armstrong was former Australian all-rounder who played his Test Cricket debut back in 1902 in Australia. In his career, he played 50 Tests on behalf of the country. In his debut as captain of the Test team, Warwick was one of the oldest captains at the time of his debut at the age of 41.
He was the Test’s leader from 1920 to 1921, a rather brief tenure. Armstrong had an undefeated record despite leading in just eleven Test matches. During his brief tenure as captain, he won eight of the ten Test matches and had two draws.
4. Johnny Douglas
Former English all-rounder and late Johnny Douglas also enjoyed a good start to his Test captaincy, albeit for a brief duration. In 1911, Johnny Douglas played his first Test match, starting as the team’s captain.
During his career, he played just 23 Test matches for England, captaining the team in 18 of those games between 1911 and 1924. Douglas won eight of his first ten Test matches while losing and drawing the other ten in his 18 games as Test captain.
5. Lindsay Hassett
Lindsay Hassett, a former Australian batter, is among the most successful captains in the first 10 Test matches. Hassett became the Test team’s captain in 1949 after making his debut for Australia in 1938.
From 1949 to 1953, Hassett led the Australian squad in 24 tests. Despite four losses and six draws, he was able to win fourteen of the games. Hassett also had eight victories, one defeat, and one tie from his first ten Test matches as captain.
6. Ricky Ponting
Ricky Ponting, the former Australian skipper and the World Cup winner on multiple occasions is placed at the sixth position in this list. During his stint, legendary Ponting was the captain of Australia during 77 Test matches and he was able to win 48 matches by having a win percentage of 62.33.
Ponting was Australia’s Test captain from 2004 to 2010. His tenure as the Test captain of one of the most formidable teams in cricket had gotten off to a strong start. Ponting won eight of his ten Test matches as captain, with just one loss and one draw.
