Batters With Highest Test Averages
Every cricket fan is aware of the fact that Don Bradman is the golden standard for Test batters. His average of 99.94 is the highest among Test cricketers. Bradman played 52 Tests scoring 6996 runs. He missed touching the magical mark of averaging 100 in his last innings as he was dismissed for a duck. A test average of 50+ is regarded as the benchmark for batters. There are very few batsmen who are able to maintain an average above 50 throughout their careers. Let us look at the top 5 Batters With Highest Test Averages.
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We look at Test batsmen with the highest averages:
[minimum – 8000 runs]
#5 Sachin Tendulkar – 53.78
There will be very few who would argue that Sachin Tendulkar is the best batsman ever. The little master is the only one to have played 200 Tests so far. He has scored 15,921 runs scoring 51 Test centuries. Tendulkar had stiff competition from peers like Ricky Ponting and Brian Lara. He was eventually able to outscore both of them. Tendulkar finished his career averaging 53.78. His Test records look improbable if not impossible to break.
#4 Jacques Kallis – 55.37
If one were to look at just numbers as a parameter for all-round greatness, there is nobody who comes close to Jacques Kallis. He was South Africa’s top batsman for more than a decade. Kallis in addition to piling a truckload of runs also picked up 292 wickets. The South African allrounder pummelled 13,289 runs in 166 Tests at an average of 55.37. His tally of 45 Test centuries is next to Sachin Tendulkar.
#3 Kumar Sangakkara – 57.40
He is one of the most elegant left-handers to have ever played the game. Kumar Sangakkara was the rock around which Sri Lanka thrived for over 15 years. He carried the burden of Lankan batting along with Mahela Jayawardene. The Lankan great amassed 12,400 runs in Test cricket at a stupendous average of 57.40. He compiled 38 Test centuries. Sangakkara scored 9 double centuries. His numbers are right up there with the best in the business.
#2 Gary Sobers – 57.78
He is one of the finest all-rounders in the game. Gary Sobers has been an inspiration for many youngsters to take up the sport. He has scored 8032 runs in 93 Tests at an average of 57.78. Sobers scored 26 Test centuries to go with his 30 half-centuries. He was part of the fearsome Windies side who took apart opponents. The ICC recognizes the best cricketer every year with an award named the ‘Gary Sobers Medal’.
#1 Steve Smith – 60.89
Steve Smith started off his Test career being a leg spin bowler. There were expectations that he would turn out to be the next Shane Warne. But his career underwent a massive transformation in 2013. Smith emerged as a solid Test batter during this phase.
He smashed 4 centuries in a series against India in 2014-15. Smith was miles ahead of any batter during the phase between 2015-17. He has once again found form in the last couple of series. Smith currently averages 60.89 in 92 Tests. He has amassed 8647 runs so far.
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