Top 25 Test Batsmen With Highest Batting Averages

All Test Ratings on the website are from 01/01/1950 onwards. Our ratings are based on conditions and diverse oppositions. Before the above mentioned date, there were primarily only two teams which dominated cricket. Moreover, matches were of unequal length with some ending in 4 days and some being timeless. Post 1950, West Indies and South Africa grew as test teams. Moreover, Asian teams India and Pakistan started improving after 1950 and became compenent at home at least. Performance in Asia and outside Asia are integral to our overall rating.

*Note: All Test Ratings are updated till 2023-01-08

Best Averages

The first list simply gives you the batsmen with best averages in Test Cricket since 1950. The second list gives you the batsmen with best Relative Averages (R Ave). How it is calculated is explained in the highlighted sections. Only batsmen with more than 2,500 runs are considered for both lists.

TOP 25 TEST BATSMEN WITH BEST AVERAGES


RANK BATSMAN NAT FP LP INNS NO 100s RUNS AVE
1 SPD Smith AUS 2010 2023 162 20 30 8647 60.89
2 M Labuschagne AUS 2018 2023 56 3 10 3150 59.43
3 KF Barrington ENG 1955 1968 131 15 20 6806 58.67
4 GS Sobers WI 1954 1974 160 21 26 8032 57.78
5 KC Sangakkara SL 2000 2015 233 17 38 12400 57.41
6 JH Kallis SA 1995 2013 280 40 45 13289 55.37
7 GS Chappell AUS 1970 1984 151 19 24 7110 53.86
8 KS Williamson NZ 2010 2023 157 15 25 7645 53.84
9 SR Tendulkar IND 1989 2013 329 33 51 15921 53.79
10 BC Lara WI 1990 2006 232 6 34 11953 52.89
11 Javed Miandad PAK 1976 1993 189 21 23 8832 52.57
12 RS Dravid IND 1996 2012 286 32 36 13288 52.31
13 Mohammad Yousuf PAK 1998 2010 156 12 24 7530 52.29
14 Younis Khan PAK 2000 2017 213 19 34 10099 52.06
15 RT Ponting AUS 1995 2012 287 29 41 13378 51.85
16 A Flower ZIM 1992 2002 112 19 12 4794 51.55
17 MEK Hussey AUS 2005 2013 137 16 19 6235 51.53
18 S Chanderpaul WI 1994 2015 280 49 30 11867 51.37
19 SM Gavaskar IND 1971 1987 214 16 34 10122 51.12
20 SR Waugh AUS 1985 2004 260 46 32 10927 51.06
21 ML Hayden AUS 1994 2009 184 14 30 8625 50.74
22 AB de Villiers SA 2004 2018 191 18 22 8765 50.66
23 AR Border AUS 1978 1994 265 44 27 11174 50.56
24 IVA Richards WI 1974 1991 182 12 24 8540 50.24
25 DPMD Jayawardena SL 1997 2014 252 15 34 11814 49.85
C Ave

The Comparative Average (C Ave) for batsmen is calculated by taken into account two factors:-

  • First is the average of batsmen at particluar positions (1-11) in a decade.
  • Second is the average of the opposition bowlers at Home, in Asia or outside Asia; whichever is applicable.
  • The average of the opposing team’s bowlers is also calculated by decades.
  • Higher C Ave suggests that more runs were given by bowlers in the above mentioned factors.
  • Thus it was easier to score runs against those oppositions and in those positions.
  • The batsmen’s points will thus be decreased accordingly.
  • Lower C Ave means the opposite.
R Ave

The Relative Average (R Ave) is calculated using the C Ave. Its formula is (Batsman’s Ave/His C Ave)*A Constant Factor. This constant doesn’t affect the rating as it is the same for everone. If your C Ave is comparatively high, your R Ave will be low; which is worse for batsmen. Broadly speaking, the following batsmen will benefit from this system:-

  • Openers, who face the new ball.
  • Lower order batsmen, whose averages are lower.
  • Batsmen who have played more in unfamiliar conditions.
  • Batsmen who have played in an era where the bowlers dominated, like the 1980s or late 2010s
  • Batsmen who have played more against top opposition than weaker teams.

TOP 25 TEST BATSMEN WITH BEST R AVE


RANK BATSMAN NAT FP LP INNS NO 100s RUNS AVE R AVE
1 SPD Smith AUS 2010 2023 162 20 30 8647 60.89 64.28
2 M Labuschagne AUS 2018 2023 56 3 10 3150 59.43 63.92
3 GS Sobers WI 1954 1974 160 21 26 8032 57.78 61.37
4 KF Barrington ENG 1955 1968 131 15 20 6806 58.67 56.86
5 KS Williamson NZ 2010 2023 157 15 25 7645 53.84 55.78
6 GS Chappell AUS 1970 1984 151 19 24 7110 53.86 55.51
7 JH Kallis SA 1995 2013 280 40 45 13289 55.37 54.28
8 KC Sangakkara SL 2000 2015 233 17 38 12400 57.41 54.24
9 BC Lara WI 1990 2006 232 6 34 11953 52.89 53.58
10 SM Gavaskar IND 1971 1987 214 16 34 10122 51.12 53.15
11 JE Root ENG 2012 2022 233 18 28 10629 49.44 52.97
12 SR Waugh AUS 1985 2004 260 46 32 10927 51.06 52.78
13 SR Tendulkar IND 1989 2013 329 33 51 15921 53.79 52.50
14 A Flower ZIM 1992 2002 112 19 12 4794 51.55 52.40
15 AR Border AUS 1978 1994 265 44 27 11174 50.56 52.20
16 Javed Miandad PAK 1976 1993 189 21 23 8832 52.57 52.14
17 IVA Richards WI 1974 1991 182 12 24 8540 50.24 52.04
18 RS Dravid IND 1996 2012 286 32 36 13288 52.31 51.97
19 KD Walters AUS 1965 1981 125 14 15 5357 48.26 51.77
20 Mohammad Yousuf PAK 1998 2010 156 12 24 7530 52.29 51.66
21 S Chanderpaul WI 1994 2015 280 49 30 11867 51.37 51.49
22 AC Gilchrist AUS 1999 2008 137 20 17 5570 47.61 51.30
23 MEK Hussey AUS 2005 2013 137 16 19 6235 51.53 51.24
24 UT Khawaja AUS 2011 2023 98 11 13 4162 47.84 51.12
25 ML Hayden AUS 1994 2009 184 14 30 8625 50.74 50.97


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