Which cricketers have the highest batting averages in Test cricket? Sir Donald Bradman (99.94), Adam Voges (61.87), Graeme Pollock (60.97), George Headley (60.83), and Herbert Sutcliffe (60.73) have the Top 5 highest Test batting averages in cricket.
Batting average has been the historic indicator of batting excellence in Test cricket over the years. Steve Smith is the only modern cricketer flirting with the 60 average and is currently at #6 with 59.76. Can he end up at #2 of all-time by the end of his career?
While we are discussing Steve Smith, here is the list of the Top 20 highest batting averages in Test cricket!
Also Read: Greatest 155 Cricketers of All-Time (Men’s), Most Centuries in Test Cricket
Key Takeaways
- There are 7 England cricketers, 4 Australians & West Indians each, 2 from South African & New Zealand, 1 Sri Lankan rank in the Top 20 highest averages of all-time in Test cricket. No Indian or Pakistani batter make the Top 20 as of 2023.
- Comparing different eras is usually an issue of debate while discussing batting averages. 7 batters in the pre-1950s era, 6 batters in the 1940s-70s, 6 in the modern era (1995-present), and 1 from pre-1900s made this list.
- We did not apply any filters on the amount of Test matches played. Jacques Kallis (166) & Kumar Sangakkara (134) played the highest number of Test matches while maintaining the high average, while George Tyldesley (14) and Daryl Mitchell (20) are at the lower end. Steve Smith, Daryl Mitchell, Kane Williamson, and Marnus Labuschagne are the only active cricketers in this list.
- From the Fab 4, only Steve Smith (59.76) and Kane Williamson (54.89) are in the Top 20 of the highest batting averages in Test cricket. Joe Root (50.87) and Virat Kohli (48.72) are much further down the list. Overall, 17 cricketers average above 55.00 in Test cricket as of now.
List of Highest Test Batting Averages: From Don Bradman to Marnus Labuschagne
Note: * signifies the cricketer is still active
1. Sir Donald Bradman (Australia) – 99.94
- Matches: 52
- Years Played: 1928-1948
- Runs: 6996
- 100s/50s: 29/13
The legend of 99.94 will remain immortal forever.
Embed from Getty Images2. Adam Voges (Australia) – 61.87
- Matches: 20
- Years Played: 2015-2016
- Runs: 1485
- 100s/50s: 5/4
Better late than never. Debuted at 35 and within a year, he scored 269*, 239, 130*, 119, 106*, 83*, 76, 60, 51*.
Embed from Getty Images3. Robert Graeme Pollock (South Africa) – 60.97
- Matches: 23
- Years Played: 1963-1970
- Runs: 2256
- 100s/50s: 7/11
Graeme Pollock: a cricket genius cut short by history’s innings. Only played 23 Tests due to South Africa’s isolation.
Embed from Getty Images4. George Headley (West Indies) – 60.83
- Matches: 22
- Years Played: 1930-1954
- Runs: 2190
- 100s/50s: 10/5
The shining star of West Indies’ cricket. The beginning of the great West Indies legacy.
Also Read: Death of West Indies Cricket? An Open Letter
Embed from Getty Images5. Herbert Sutcliffe (England) – 60.73
- Matches: 54
- Years Played: 1924-1935
- Runs: 4555
- 100s/50s: 16/23
Wisden’s Almanack describes “his off drive wore a silk hat.”
Embed from Getty Images6. Steve Smith* (Australia) – 59.76
- Matches: 99
- Years Played: 2010-Present
- Runs: 9085
- 100s/50s: 32/37
Fab Four? More like the Fab 1. Miles apart in modern Test cricket.
Embed from Getty Images7. Eddie Paynter (England) – 59.23
- Matches: 20
- Years Played: 1931-1939
- Runs: 1540
- 100s/50s: 4/7
Averaged 84.42 in his seven Tests in the Ashes. Absolutely brilliant.
Embed from Getty Images8. Ken Barrington (England) – 58.67
- Matches: 82
- Years Played: 1955-1968
- Runs: 6806
- 100s/50s: 20/35
ESPNCricinfo stated that Barrington “abandoned his natural attacking style to become one of cricket’s most notorious stonewallers.” Lovely!
Embed from Getty Images9. Everton Weekes (West Indies) – 58.61
- Matches: 48
- Years Played: 1948-1958
- Runs: 4455
- 100s/50s: 15/19
Dominated the entire decade of the 1950s.
Embed from Getty Images10. Wally Hammond (England) – 58.45
- Matches: 85
- Years Played: 1927-1947
- Runs: 7249
- 100s/50s: 22/24
7249 runs are all well and good but Hammond’s truly legacy is in first class cricket. Over 50,000 runs and 167 centuries.
Embed from Getty Images Embed11. Garfield Sobers (West Indies) – 57.78
- Matches: 93
- Years Played: 1954-1974
- Runs: 8032
- 100s/50s: 26/30
One of the usual contenders as the greatest all-rounder or even the greatest player of all-time.
Embed from Getty Images12. Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) – 57.40
- Matches: 134
- Years Played: 2000-2015
- Runs: 12400
- 100s/50s: 38/52
To play 134 Tests over 15 years and still average over 57 is utterly mind-boggling. Had golden years toward the end of his career.
Embed from Getty Images13. Daryl Mitchell* (New Zealand) – 57.21
- Matches: 18
- Years Played: 2019-Present
- Runs: 1316
- 100s/50s: 5/8
Too soon to say if he will stay in the list, but a worthy addition to New Zealand’s line up across formats.
Embed from Getty Images14. Jack Hobbs (England) – 56.94
- Matches: 61
- Years Played: 1908-1930
- Runs: 5410
- 100s/50s: 15/28
His international career might be good, but his first-class career is just WOW – 61760 runs with 199 hundreds. Played 834 first class matches.
Embed from Getty Images15. Clyde Walcott (West Indies) – 56.98
- Matches: 44
- Years Played: 1948-1960
- Runs: 3798
- 100s/50s: 15/14
Made up the 3 W’s with Weekes & Worrell. The trio defined the decade for West Indies.
Embed from Getty Images16. Sir Leonard Hutton (England) – 56.67
- Matches: 79
- Years Played: 1937-1955
- Runs: 6971
- 100s/50s: 19/33
Two decades of excellence. One of the greatest ever.
Embed from Getty Images17. Jacques Kallis (South Africa) – 55.37
- Matches: 166
- Years Played: 1995-2013
- Runs: 13289
- 100s/50s: 45/58
Averages 55.37 with the bat and 32.65 with the ball. The Greatest. Everything – Batter, Fielder, Bowler, Human Being.
Embed from Getty ImagesHighest Test Batting Averages – Honorable Mentions
The players in the honorable mentions below average 55.00 or below in Test cricket.
18. George Earnest Tyldesley (England) – 55.00
- Matches: 14
- Years Played: 1899-1909
- Runs: 990
- 100s/50s: 3/6
Not the one you are thinking of. That is Johnny Tyldesley. George was his brother. Just 990 runs and 14 Tests for George, but still impactful.
Embed from Getty Images19. Kane Williamson* (New Zealand) – 54.89
- Matches: 94
- Years Played: 2010-Present
- Runs: 8124
- 100s/50s: 28/33
Kane Williamson: Calm surface, intense underneath, true gentleman of the game.
Embed from Getty Images20. Marnus Labuschagne* (Australia) – 54.63
- Matches: 40
- Years Played: 2018-Present
- Runs: 3551
- 100s/50s: 10/15
If he continues playing the way he is in Ashes 2023, he might drop out of this list soon…but a brilliant beginning to his career nevertheless.
Embed from Getty ImagesFinal Thoughts
From Sir Donald Bradman to Marnus Labuschagne, which ones surprised you the most? Here were the Top 20 batters with the highest average in Test cricket.
If Steve Smith continues his spectacular run, could we be witnessing the journey of another legend who could make it to the top 3? Time will tell!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Sir Donald Bradman has the highest average in Test cricket (99.94). He is followed by Voges (61.87), Graeme Pollock (60.97), George Headley (60.83), and Herbert Sutcliffe (60.73).
Steve Smith’s Test average is 59.76. He can end up at #2 of all-time.
© Copyright @Nitesh Mathur and Broken Cricket Dreams, LLC 2023. Originally published on 06/30/2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Broken Cricket Dreams with appropriate and specific direction to the original content (i.e. linked to the exact post/article).
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