Taibu becomes youngest captain in Test cricket

Tatenda Taibu became the youngest captain in the Test cricket history when he led Zimbabwe in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Harare on Thursday. Taibu, who will turn 21 on May 14, obliterated India's Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi's long standing world record.

Pataudi was 21 years 77 days old when he captained India for the first time in the third match of five match series against West Indies at Bridgetown in 1961-62. Pataudi, however, got the captaincy by accident rather than by appointment.

Nariman Contractor was Indian captain for this tour and captained India in first two Tests, but was unavailable because of a head injury and Pataudi was given this responsibility of leading his side. It is to Pataudi's credit that he turned out to be one of the best captains India have ever produced.

Taibu, despite becoming the youngest Test captain, still does not hold the unique record associated with 'Tiger' Pataudi. Pataudi was the youngest of the eleven players whom he captained in that match at Bridgetown. This Zimbabwean side has as many as five players younger than Taibu!

It is worth mentioning that in April Taibu became the youngest captain in one-day internationals. So he now holds the top spot in both forms of cricket.

The accompanying table lists the youngest captains in Test cricket: