Sourav Ganguly (India)  

What Mohammad Azharuddin - the former Indian captain and now a disgraced cricketer, couldn’t achieve in almost 10 year's captaincy period, Sourav Ganguly seems to have achieved it in a couple of years. That is- Indian critics' and pundits' appreciation for his imaginative leadership skill.

Ever since, Sourav Ganguly has become the captain of Indian team, his urge to perform as an individual and to mould Indian cricket team in a cohesive unit has grown immensely. Sourav has been different from his predecessors. What sets Sourav apart from his predecessors is his enviable communication skill and extraordinary zeal to make India a strong team.

Never ever has India seen a captain as aggressive as Ganguly is? So, if Australian captain Steve Waugh is sending verbal bouncers to out- psyche Indians, Sourav is not a bit hesitant to hook those bouncers! In fact, he also indulges himself in war of words to score a point or two before the series gets started.

Apart from his captaincy, Sourav’s batting would be as important for India’s success as Steve Waugh’s for Australia. Since his debut in 1996 at Lords, Sourav Test career is not as glittering as his one-day career. Of course, his average in Test matches is handsome but Sourav was a complete failure, when India toured Australia in 1999. So, onus as well as responsibility will be huge on Sourav’s shoulder to deliver.

In a recent interview to a Television channel Sourav has admitted that his Test match performance is not as brilliant or as memorable as his ODI performance and hence he is determined to do better in Test cricket. So wait and watch the 'elegant assassin' lead from the front.

Sourav Ganguly's Test  Statistics

Sourav Ganguly's ODI Statistics

 Steve Waugh (Australia)  

When you say Steve Waugh in cricket, you may as well say 'The Rock' because that is what exactly he is. Either as a batsman or as a player he is mentally the strongest player in the Aussie squad. Always leading by example with bat or sometimes-even ball, he has always come to the forefront for Australia when everyone else had failed. 

As one takes a closer look at Steve Waugh he realizes that this man is different from the others. What sets him apart from the others is the intensity in his eyes and the ruthlessness by which he treats his opponent. As a captain he has a fabulous record of winning the last 15 Tests - A world record and has been there on the International scene for ages. 

If India has to stop the Australians they will have to defeat this man first. A clean cricketer (Now that’s a quality which is very rare in today’s game) who enjoys the complete confidence of his teammates and the selectors. He has continued the Aussie tradition of producing great Captains since Bradman.  A proud 'baggy green-cap leader', Steve Waugh needs this last trophy (Border-Gavaskar trophy) to get himself in that league where he won’t be only called a great Captain, but the greatest. Steve can you prove yourself again.......one last time?

Steve Waugh Test  Statistics

Steve Waugh : ODI  Statistics