In cricket, many players dream of becoming the captain of their national team. Some cricketers play hundreds of matches and perform brilliantly, but they never get the chance to lead their country. Here, we look at five legendary players who played over 350 international matches but were never given the responsibility of captaincy.
1. Muttiah Muralitharan – 495 Matches
Muttiah Muralitharan from Sri Lanka is one of the greatest bowlers in cricket history. He has the record for taking the most wickets in international cricket, with 1,347 wickets to his name. Despite playing 495 matches for Sri Lanka and being an essential part of the team, he was never made captain. Muralitharan’s talent on the field was unmatched, but he was never allowed to lead the team.
2. Yuvraj Singh – 402 Matches
Yuvraj Singh is one of India’s biggest match-winners. Known for his explosive batting and outstanding fielding, Yuvraj was a key player in India’s 2011 World Cup win. He also played a crucial role in India’s 2007 T20 World Cup victory. Yuvraj played 402 matches for India, but despite being vice-captain several times, he was never promoted to full-time captaincy. Fans still remember his incredible six sixes in one over during the 2007 T20 World Cup.
3. James Anderson – 401 Matches
England’s James Anderson is one of the most successful fast bowlers in the history of cricket. Anderson, who played 401 matches, is known for his ability to swing the ball and dominate in Test cricket. He is the only fast bowler who has taken over 600 Test wickets. Even though Anderson was one of the senior players in the England team for many years, he was never chosen as captain, a role usually reserved for batsmen in English cricket.
4. Glenn McGrath – 376 Matches
Australia’s Glenn McGrath is one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time. He was part of Australia’s golden era, winning three World Cups with the team. McGrath played 376 matches and took 949 wickets in his career. He was known for his accuracy and consistency. Despite being such an important player for Australia, McGrath was never made the captain, with Australia preferring batsmen or all-rounders for the role.
5. Mark Waugh – 372 Matches
Mark Waugh, the brother of former Australian captain Steve Waugh, played 372 matches for Australia. Mark was known for his stylish batting and sharp fielding. He scored 16,529 runs in international cricket and was an essential part of Australia’s success in the 1990s. However, unlike his brother, Mark never had the chance to captain his team. He always remained in the shadow of Steve, who is remembered as one of Australia’s most successful captains.
These players were legends in their own right, contributing immensely to their teams’ success, but for various reasons, they never wore the captain’s armband. Their contributions to cricket will always be remembered, even without the title of captain.
