Best Kiwi Test Middle Order Batsmen Featured

Top 7 New Zealand Middle Order Batsmen in Tests

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All Test Ratings on the website are from 01/01/1950 onwards (Know Why). Most of our ratings are dynamic, and as new matches are played, the rating of earlier batsmen may change if current batsmen set new benchmarks. Brief explanation of the ratings is given before each section (Detailed Explanation). Here are the Top 7 Kiwi middle order (3-6) batsmen in Test Cricket since 1950.

*Note: All Test Ratings are updated till 2025-02-15

CONTENTS
1. THE CRITERIA
2. QUALIFICATION
3. PRIMARY CRITERIA
3.1. PROLIFIC
3.2. CONSISTENT
3.2.1. Against All Teams
3.2.2. Against Top Teams
3.3. BIG INNINGS POTENTIAL
3.4. ATTACKING
3.5. PRIMARY RATING
4. CONDITIONS CRITERIA
4.1. HOME/AWAY
4.1.1. At Home
4.1.2. Away From Home
4.2. FAMILIAR/UNFAMILIAR CONDITIONS
4.2.1. Familiar Conditions Rating
4.2.1.1. Non Asians Outside Asia
4.2.2. Unfamiliar Conditions Rating
4.2.2.1. Non Asians In Asia
4.3. CONDITIONS RATING
5. SECONDARY CRITERIA
5.1. TOP FORM AT HOME
5.2. TOP FORM AWAY
5.3. DIFFICULT RUNS
5.4. IMPACT INNINGS
5.5. SECONDARY RATING
6. OVERALL RATING
7. TOP TEAMS
7.1. Top Teams In Asia
7.2. Top Teams Outside Asia
Nations Filter

This rating filters the OVERALL Rating to show players only from New Zealand.

  • The Rating of the players from New Zealand remains the same as in the original OVERALL Rating.
  • Thus the Trend Setter can be from any nation and is not necessarily from New Zealand.
Position Filter

This rating filters the OVERALL Rating to include performances of middle order (3-6) batsmen. Innings played only at the specified position are counted in this rating.

THE CRITERIA

CRITERIA CONSTITUENTS
Primary Runs, Average, Top Inns, Strike Rate
Conditions Home, Away, In Asia, Outside Asia
Secondary Top Form Home and Away, Difficult Runs, Impact Inns
The Trend Setter (TS)

TS is the player which does the best in a criteria. The rating of all other players are calculated taking the TS as the benchmark. Know All About TS. Here is an example:-

  • TS Runs: 2,000; Player X Runs: 1,000; Section Points: 250.00
  • TS Points: 250.00(Max); Player X Points: Runs/TS Runs X 250 = 1,000/2,000 X 250 = 125.00
  • Ratings of all sections are calculated similarly with Runs being replaced by the Criteria Stat.
Top Teams (TT)

Some sections consider performances only against the top teams. Here is some information about the Top Teams:-

  • Win/Loss Ratio is used to determine top teams.
  • The top teams are calculated by decades.
  • Further, they are divided into In Asia and Outside Asia.
  • A batsman’s performace is counted in TT if it comes in the specific condition and in the specific decade.

QUALIFICATION

Min Innings 50

PRIMARY CRITERIA

The Primary Rating is divided into 4 main sections:-

CRITERIA STAT POINTS
Prolific Runs Scored 200.00
Consistent Average 500.00
Big Innings Potential Top Inns (Runs) 150.00
Attacking Strike Rate 150.00

PROLIFIC

The Eras

The time period from 1950 to present is divided into eras for this section. This is because less cricket was played earlier. To make it fair for earlier players they are compared with players of the same period with a slight reduction in points. Know More About Eras.

Era 1 MP before 1991
Era 2 MP between 1990 And 2016
Era 3 MP greater than 2015

Criteria: Points For Runs Scored

RANK ERA 1 NAT FP LP MP INNS RUNS RAT
TS AR Border AUS 1978 1994 1986 257 10964 170.00
1 MD Crowe NZ 1982 1995 1988.5 128 5390 83.57
2 BE Congdon NZ 1965 1978 1971.5 98 3147 48.80
RANK ERA 2 NAT FP LP MP INNS RUNS RAT
TS SR Tendulkar IND 1989 2013 2001 324 15789 200.00
1 LRPL Taylor NZ 2007 2022 2014.5 196 7683 97.32
2 SP Fleming NZ 1994 2008 2001 174 6669 84.48
3 BB McCullum NZ 2004 2016 2010 78 2935 37.18
4 CD McMillan NZ 1997 2005 2001 78 2808 35.57
RANK ERA 3 NAT FP LP MP INNS RUNS RAT
TS JE Root ENG 2012 2024 2018 266 12555 180.00
1 KS Williamson NZ 2010 2024 2017 184 9264 132.82

CONSISTENT

R Ave

Relative Average (R Ave) is a more accurate type of average. Know How It Is Calculated. Briefly, it takes into account:-

  • Strength of Opposition.
  • Positions at which a batsman has played.
  • Venues at which he has played.
  • Time Period in which he has been active

Criteria: Points For Relative Average

Min Qualification For TS
Min Runs 2500

Against All Teams

RANK BATSMAN INNS NO RUNS AVE R AVE RAT
TS GS Sobers 135 16 7048 59.23 60.73 250.00
1 KS Williamson 184 17 9264 55.47 55.79 229.67
2 MD Crowe 128 11 5390 46.07 45.50 187.30
3 LRPL Taylor 196 24 7683 44.67 43.49 179.04
4 CD McMillan 78 8 2808 40.11 41.21 169.66
5 SP Fleming 174 9 6669 40.42 38.90 160.13
6 BB McCullum 78 3 2935 39.13 37.05 152.51
7 BE Congdon 98 7 3147 34.58 36.07 148.49

Against Top Teams

RANK BATSMAN INNS NO RUNS AVE R AVE RAT
TS GS Sobers 112 12 5793 57.93 59.40 250.00
1 KS Williamson 133 9 5800 46.77 47.04 197.99
2 MD Crowe 113 10 4490 43.59 43.05 181.20
3 BB McCullum 47 2 1925 42.78 40.50 170.44
4 SP Fleming 126 9 4729 40.42 38.90 163.72
5 LRPL Taylor 139 12 4860 38.27 37.26 156.82
6 BE Congdon 82 5 2744 35.64 37.17 156.44
7 CD McMillan 64 6 1926 33.21 34.12 143.59

BIG INNINGS POTENTIAL

Ave HS

In this criteria, we have taken the top 7 scores of the batsman in the specific condition. Average High Score (Ave HS) is simply the total runs in the 7 innings divided by 7.

Criteria: Points For Runs Scored In The Top 7 Inns

RANK BATSMAN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 AVE HS RAT
TS BC Lara 400* 375 277 226 221 216 213 275.43 150.00
1 KS Williamson 251 242* 238 215 200* 200* 192 219.71 119.66
2 SP Fleming 274* 262 202 192 174* 130 129 194.71 106.04
3 LRPL Taylor 290 217* 200 173* 154* 151 142 189.57 103.24
4 MD Crowe 299 188 188 174 143 142 140 182.00 99.12
5 BB McCullum 302 224 195 145 113 97 96 167.43 91.18
6 BE Congdon 176 175 166* 132 126 107* 104 140.86 76.71
7 CD McMillan 142 142 139 107* 106 100* 98 119.14 64.89

ATTACKING

R SR

Relative Strike Rate (R SR) is calculated using the same method as R Ave with average being replaced with SR. Batsman who were active in earlier times benefit from this as SR was generally low earlier.

R4BF

Balls played by batsmen for many inns is not available for earlier times. When such is the case, we have used Runs For Balls Faced (R4BF) to determine the Strike Rate. This is the runs scored by the batsman for the available data of balls.

Criteria: Points For R SR

Min Qualification For TS
Min Runs 2500
Min Average 25
RANK BATSMAN R4BF BF SR R SR RAT
TS IVA Richards 6609 9580 68.99 75.84 150.00
1 BB McCullum 2935 4311 68.08 64.98 128.51
2 CD McMillan 2808 4995 56.22 57.97 114.64
3 LRPL Taylor 7683 12958 59.29 57.09 112.91
4 KS Williamson 9264 17875 51.83 50.00 98.89
5 MD Crowe 5390 12059 44.70 48.80 96.51
6 SP Fleming 6669 14582 45.73 46.80 92.56
7 BE Congdon 1423 4273 33.30 41.23 81.55

PRIMARY RATING

The total of the above four criteria comes out to be 1,000.00 points. The Primary Rating is the addition of the points a batsman scored in the four criteria. The Weightage of the Rating is half of the OVERALL Rating, i.e. 500.00 pts.

RANK BATSMAN PRO CON BIP ATT RAT PRI PTS
1 KS Williamson 132.82 427.67 119.66 98.89 779.04 389.52
2 LRPL Taylor 97.32 335.86 103.24 112.91 649.33 324.66
3 MD Crowe 83.57 368.49 99.12 96.51 647.69 323.85
4 SP Fleming 84.48 323.85 106.04 92.56 606.93 303.46
5 BB McCullum 37.18 322.95 91.18 128.51 579.82 289.91
6 CD McMillan 35.57 313.25 64.89 114.64 528.35 264.17
7 BE Congdon 48.80 304.93 76.71 81.55 511.98 255.99

CONDITIONS CRITERIA

The Conditions

The Conditions Ratings are calculated by applying the four criteria of the Primary Rating to diffirent conditions. If Innings are less than the Qualification than the Player gets 50% of the Points. Click on the Rating Titles to see how they were calculated.

The four conditions criteria and thier weightage is as follows:-

CRITERIA POINTS
Home 250.00
Away 1,000.00
Familiar Conditions 250.00
Unfamiliar Conditions 1,000.00

HOME/AWAY

HOME/AWAY RATING

Points to note:-

  • U.A.E. is considered as a second Home for Pakistan and Afghanistan.
  • All Home and Away stats of Pakistani and Afghani batsmen are calculated accordingly.

At Home

Min Innings: 20

RANK BATSMAN INNS RUNS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 KS Williamson 87 5142 66.78 54.99 794.50 198.62
2 BB McCullum 38 1888 53.94 70.37 658.97 164.74
3 LRPL Taylor 87 3905 53.49 60.24 636.97 159.24
4 MD Crowe 51 2381 50.66 44.49 595.54 148.88
5 CD McMillan 35 1620 52.26 62.09 546.67 136.67
6 SP Fleming 85 2911 35.07 45.50 463.33 115.83
7 BE Congdon 53 1577 31.54 34.74 421.67 105.42

Away From Home

Min Innings: 20

RANK BATSMAN INNS RUNS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 KS Williamson 97 4122 45.80 48.36 635.45 635.45
2 SP Fleming 89 3758 45.83 45.92 626.27 626.27
3 MD Crowe 77 3009 42.99 44.86 588.02 588.02
4 LRPL Taylor 109 3778 38.16 58.34 565.35 565.35
5 BE Congdon 45 1570 38.29 32.26 501.34 501.34
6 CD McMillan 43 1188 30.46 49.79 419.71 419.71
7 BB McCullum 40 1047 26.18 64.31 381.24 381.24

FAMILIAR/UNFAMILIAR CONDITIONS

FAMILIAR/UNFAMILIAR CONDITIONS RATING

Points to note:-

  • Unfamiliar Conditions (UC) is Outside Asia for Asians and In Asia for Non Asians.
  • Familiar Conditions (FC) are the opposite.

Familiar Conditions Rating

Non Asians Outside Asia

Min Innings: 20

RANK BATSMAN INNS RUNS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 KS Williamson 139 7135 57.54 53.07 735.30 183.83
2 LRPL Taylor 149 6282 49.86 59.98 655.80 163.95
3 MD Crowe 105 4661 48.05 45.19 625.39 156.35
4 BB McCullum 71 2775 40.81 68.52 577.37 144.34
5 SP Fleming 147 5171 36.42 45.57 523.95 130.99
6 BE Congdon 83 2846 37.45 33.30 513.73 128.43
7 CD McMillan 64 2321 40.02 55.69 482.69 120.67

Unfamiliar Conditions Rating

Non Asians In Asia

Min Innings: 10

RANK BATSMAN INNS RUNS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 SP Fleming 27 1498 65.13 46.31 719.45 719.45
2 KS Williamson 45 2129 49.51 48.05 695.51 695.51
3 LRPL Taylor 47 1401 30.46 56.38 533.29 533.29
4 BB McCullum 7 160 22.86 61.30 500.00 500.00
5 CD McMillan 14 487 40.58 58.89 431.19 431.19
6 MD Crowe 23 729 36.45 41.78 419.83 419.83
7 BE Congdon 15 301 20.07 NK 271.16 271.16

CONDITIONS RATING

The total of the above four criteria comes out to be 2,500.00 points. The Conditions Rating is the addition of the points a batsman scored in the four criteria. The Weightage of the Rating is one-fourth of the OVERALL Rating, i.e. 250 pts.

RANK BATSMAN AWAY HOME UC FC TOT CON PTS
1 KS Williamson 635.45 198.62 695.51 183.83 1,713.41 171.34
2 SP Fleming 626.27 115.83 719.45 130.99 1,592.54 159.25
3 LRPL Taylor 565.35 159.24 533.29 163.95 1,421.83 142.18
4 MD Crowe 588.02 148.88 419.83 156.35 1,313.08 131.31
5 BB McCullum 381.24 164.74 500.00 144.34 1,190.32 119.03
6 CD McMillan 419.71 136.67 431.19 120.67 1,108.24 110.82
7 BE Congdon 501.34 105.42 271.16 128.43 1,006.35 100.64

SECONDARY CRITERIA

The Secondary Rating consists of four parts. If Innings are less than the Qualification than the Player gets 50% of the Points. Click on the Rating Titles to see how they were calculated.

The four secondary criteria and thier weightage is as follows:-

CRITERIA POINTS
Top Form Home 200.00
Top Form Away 800.00
Difficult Runs 500.00
Impact Innings 1,000.00
TOP FORM RATING

Points to note about Top Form Rating:-

  • Top Form is calculated by taking the best 30 consecutive innings of a batsman.
  • There are two TF Ratings used in our OVERALL Rating: Home and Away.

TOP FORM AT HOME

Min Innings: 10

RANK BATSMAN INNS RUNS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 KS Williamson 30 2370 91.15 57.83 890.60 178.12
2 BB McCullum 30 1707 63.22 73.36 727.59 145.52
3 MD Crowe 30 1828 67.70 46.30 710.26 142.05
4 LRPL Taylor 30 1646 65.84 61.51 656.94 131.39
5 CD McMillan 30 1475 56.73 65.53 607.78 121.56
6 SP Fleming 30 1179 40.66 50.84 472.26 94.45
7 BE Congdon 30 961 34.32 37.92 408.70 81.74

TOP FORM AWAY

Min Innings: 10

RANK BATSMAN INNS RUNS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 KS Williamson 30 1873 72.04 54.23 800.08 640.06
2 SP Fleming 30 1746 60.21 53.96 777.89 622.31
3 LRPL Taylor 30 1492 64.87 62.82 725.85 580.68
4 MD Crowe 30 1412 54.31 45.98 639.40 511.52
5 BE Congdon 30 1316 48.74 36.41 612.65 490.12
6 CD McMillan 30 869 32.19 48.47 437.68 350.14
7 BB McCullum 30 747 24.90 60.10 390.68 312.55

DIFFICULT RUNS

DIFF RNS RATING

Points to note:-

  • Difficult Runs are runs scored in the first and fourth innings after losing the toss.
  • Only performances against Top Teams are considered in this rating.

Min Innings: 10

RANK BATSMAN INNS RUNS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 SP Fleming 26 1355 58.91 46.93 839.18 419.59
2 KS Williamson 28 1261 48.50 49.07 808.51 404.26
3 BB McCullum 13 796 61.23 78.19 760.66 380.33
4 BE Congdon 15 644 46.00 40.86 625.46 312.73
5 MD Crowe 20 651 38.29 38.89 540.15 270.08
6 CD McMillan 11 410 41.00 49.04 475.87 237.93
7 LRPL Taylor 30 738 26.36 57.97 469.54 234.77

IMPACT INNINGS

Impact Innings (II)

Impact Innings are those innings which have an impact in terms of runs or Strike Rate. Know All About II. Points to note about II:-

  • 1st & 2nd and 3rd & 4th innings are clubbed together.
  • A Batsman should score at least 30 runs to qualify.
  • An Inn is included in II if it is 20% of the total runs of the higher total or
  • The runs are more than 12.5% of the total runs and
  • The SR is high or in a successful chase while being Not Out.

Min Innings: 50

RANK BATSMAN DIS II II/Dis% RAT WTG
1 MD Crowe 117 36 30.77 721.94 721.94
2 KS Williamson 167 55 32.93 704.51 704.51
3 LRPL Taylor 172 48 27.91 621.42 621.42
4 SP Fleming 165 39 23.64 563.06 563.06
5 BE Congdon 91 19 20.88 505.61 505.61
6 CD McMillan 70 18 25.71 432.20 432.20
7 BB McCullum 75 15 20.00 413.52 413.52

SECONDARY RATING

The total of the above four criteria comes out to be 2,500.00 points. Secondary Rating is the addition of the points a batsman scored in the four criteria. The Weightage of the Rating is one-fourth of the OVERALL Rating, i.e. 250.00 pts.

RANK BATSMAN TF HM TF AW DIF RNS II TOT SEC RAT
1 KS Williamson 178.12 640.06 404.26 704.51 1,926.94 192.69
2 SP Fleming 94.45 622.31 419.59 563.06 1,699.41 169.94
3 MD Crowe 142.05 511.52 270.08 721.94 1,645.58 164.56
4 LRPL Taylor 131.39 580.68 234.77 621.42 1,568.25 156.83
5 BE Congdon 81.74 490.12 312.73 505.61 1,390.19 139.02
6 BB McCullum 145.52 312.55 380.33 413.52 1,251.91 125.19
7 CD McMillan 121.56 350.14 237.93 432.20 1,141.83 114.18

OVERALL RATING

The OVERALL Rating is the addition of the points of all the above criteria. The rating is out of 1,000 Pts. Half the points are for Primary Criteria; one-fourth for Conditions; and one-fourth for Secondary Criteria.

RANK OV RANK BATSMAN NAT PRI RAT CON RAT SEC RAT FIN RAT
1 13 KS Williamson NZ 389.52 171.34 192.69 753.55
2 34 SP Fleming NZ 303.46 159.25 169.94 632.66
3 38 LRPL Taylor NZ 324.66 142.18 156.83 623.67
4 41 MD Crowe NZ 323.85 131.31 164.56 619.71
5 83 BB McCullum NZ 289.91 119.03 125.19 534.13
6 109 BE Congdon NZ 255.99 100.64 139.02 495.65
7 111 CD McMillan NZ 264.17 110.82 114.18 489.18

TOP TEAMS

Top Teams In Asia

DECADE OF MAT 1 2 3 4 5 6
1950s AUS WI PAK IND ENG
1960s WI AUS PAK IND NZ ENG
1970s PAK ENG IND WI SA
1980s PAK WI ENG NZ IND
1990s IND PAK SA AUS SL WI
2000s AUS IND SL PAK SA ENG
2010s IND PAK SL ENG NZ SA
2020s IND AUS PAK NZ ENG SL

Top Teams Outside Asia

DECADE OF MAT 1 2 3 4 5 6
1950s AUS ENG WI SA
1960s ENG AUS WI SA NZ
1970s SA ENG WI AUS IND
1980s WI NZ AUS ENG PAK
1990s AUS SA WI PAK ENG NZ
2000s AUS ENG SA IND NZ PAK
2010s SA AUS ENG NZ IND PAK
2020s AUS ENG NZ SA IND WI

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