Captain is the main player of any cricket team. He is the person who takes the decision of the batting order, field placement as well as the rotation of the bowlers. If the captain is good, even an average team can punch above its weight and perform well.
However, if the skipper does not possess good leadership skills, then the team does not perform well irrespective of how talented the players in the team are. Speaking of captaincy, it is important to have only one skipper so that there is stability in the decision-making and approach of the team. But due to some unfortunate or personal reasons, on the following three occasions, the teams used a different captain in every match of the series.
1. South Africa had a different captain in 3-match ODI series against India, 2022
The Proteas are currently on a tour of India. The tour started with a three-match T20I series where Temba Bavuma led the visitors. It was an entertaining series which ended in India’s favor by 2-1. After the T20I series, the two teams are now competing in a three-match ICC Cricket World Cup Super League series. It is an important series for the Proteas because their place in the 2023 Cricket World Cup is not yet guaranteed.
Bavuma started as the captain in this series, but he fell sick before the second game. Keshav Maharaj led the team in the second ODI. However, before the third ODI, even Maharaj was unwell. Hence, David Miller is leading the team today.
2. West Indies vs England, 1930
In 1930, West Indies and England played a four-match Test series. In those four games, the captains of West Indies were Karl Nunes, Teddy Hoad, Nelson Betancourt and Maurice Fernandes.
3. South Africa vs Australia, 1902
South Africa is the first team to use different captains in every match of an ODI series with at least 3 matches.
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) October 11, 2022
In Tests, it happened twice.
4 matches, 4 captains
By West Indies v ENG, 1930
3 matches, 3 captains
By South Africa v AUS, 1902#INDvSA
This is not the first time South Africa have used three different skippers in a three-match series. In 1902, the captains were Henry Taberer, Biddy Anderson and Barberton Halliwell in the three-match series against Australia.
