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Steve Smith Vs Pat Cummins Captaincy Record: Who Should Lead Australia In Turbulence



Both Cummins and Smith have done well as Australian captains [Source: AFP]
Both Cummins and Smith have done well as Australian captains [Source: AFP]

Steve Smith and Pat Cummins are not only two legendary Australian players, but the duo also boasts a stellar Test captaincy record. While Smith led the Australian team from 2014 to 2018, Cummins became the leader in 2021, and since then, he has been one of the best red-ball leaders.

Captain Cummins lost the Test match against Bangladesh on Sunday, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that the seam bowler has led from the front and has made Australia a force in the game’s longest format.

There is a school of thought that believes Smith has done better as Australia’s Test captain, while many believe Cummins has been better. In this article, we take a look at their captaincy record to determine the better Aussie Test skipper.

Steve Smith's Test captaincy record for Australia at a glance

Criterion
Data
Matches Led44
Wins26
Losses
11
Drawn matches
7
Win%
59.09

(Smith Test captaincy record)

  • As the data reveals, Steve Smith has led Australia in 44 Test matches, and the veteran has an impeccable win/loss ratio. He has won 26 matches and has lost just 11, with seven drawn games on the cards.
  • Moreover, Smith has a solid Test win percentage of 59.09, and it showcases how well the right-handed batter has led his nation in red-ball cricket.
  • However, his captaincy tenure was also marred by controversy as the infamous Sandpaper Gate incident occurred during Australia’s 2018 South Africa series, and Smith was banned for one year and stripped of leadership duties.

How Pat Cummins has fared as Australia's Test captain

Criterion
Data
Matches Led39
Wins24
Losses
9
Drawn matches
6
Win%
61.53

(Cummins Test stats as captain)

  • Cummins boasts an even better Test record than Smith. The right-arm pacer has led his nation in 39 Tests and has won 24, while losing 9 Tests. Moreover, he has a solid win percentage of 61.53.
  • In five years of his captaincy, Pat Cummins has lost just nine Tests, and under his guidance, the Australian team has generally done well in big matches.

In terms of overall captaincy record and win percentage, Cummins triumphs over Smith, but let us take a look at how the two captains have fared in big matches.

Also Read: Pat Cummins Openly Pins The Blame On These Players For Australia’s Harrowing Loss vs Bangladesh

What goes in favour of Pat Cummins?

Under Cummins, the Australian Test team has a WTC title, and they reached the final in another one (2025). Moreover, in big series against the best opposition, Australia has done well under his leadership.

Under his guidance, Australia defeated India in a one-sided series and also won the Ashes series: 2021-22, and drew the other one in 2023.

Australia's heaviest series defeat came against India away from home in 2023, but even on that tour, the team lost by a margin of just 1-2, while taking India to the limit.

Chinks in Steve Smith's Test captaincy

Unlike Cummins, Smith has been whitewashed in a Test series, and that unfortunate event took place in 2016, when Australia toured Sri Lanka and lost all three Tests.

Under his guidance, the team lost against India away from home, and it was during the South Africa tour in 2018 that Smith and two other players were involved in the Sandpaper Gate incident, which tarnished Australia's image.

In between, Australia witnessed highs by beating England in 2017 at home, and once again beating the Three Lions in the 2025-26 series. However, he had more lows than highs.

Final verdict

While Smith has done well in patches and has a terrific 59.09% win record as Australia’s captain, Cummins has slightly better numbers, and statistically he is ahead of the Australian batter.

Moreover, Cummins’ Australia has a better record against big teams, and they have a Test ICC trophy under their belt. Hence, Pat Cummins is a better skipper than Smith in Tests, and should be the one to continue leading the team in red-ball cricket.

Also Read: Bangladesh PM Facetimes Najmul Hossain Shanto, Labels Australia Win Bigger Than India's 2007 WC Win