Top 5 South African captains of all time

#2 Hansie Cronje

Hansie Cronje was renowned as a smart tactician capable of thinking outside the box

The sight of Hansie Cronje breaking down during testimony at King's Commission remains one of the most poignant moments in cricket history. Before he admitted to his involvement in the nefarious match-fixing scandal and subsequently ruined his legacy in the game, the Bloemfontein-born cricketer was a renowned captain who led his country in both Tests and ODIs for a substantial period of time.

Out of 19 Tests series between 1994 and 2000, the Cronje-led team lost only four and earned the reputation of being a world-class unit. In the limited-overs front, South Africa's only title in ICC events came under his captaincy.

The right-hander's two half-centuries played a vital role in securing the 1998 Wills International Cup which would later be construed as the inaugural edition of Champions Trophy. His aggressive tactics were the cornerstone of the Proteas's successes during the 90s. In 2002, Cronje passed away in a flight crash.

Captaincy Record

Tests: 27 wins and 11 losses from 53 matches

ODIs: 99 wins and 35 losses from 138 matches