In a Test match, when a team is in a difficult position, a captain always likes to send a batter that would steady the ship for him. Often, a batter’s caliber is measured by his average in an innings. Higher the average, the more reliable the batter. It is never easy to score big knocks over and over again. But some batters in history made it look very easy. Here are the Top 10 Highest Career Batting Averages in Test Cricket-
1. Don Bradman (99.94)
This stat proves the quality of Australia’s Sir Donald George Bradman. Statistically, none of the other batters come even close to him as far as Test average is concerned. His average could’ve been a perfect 100 if he had not got out on zero in his last innings. In 80 innings, he scored 6996 runs and has 29 Test centuries to his name. In a match against England in 1930, he scored 309* runs in a single day (the most in a single day).
2. Adam Voges (61.87)
Adam Charles Voges is an Australian batter who has batted in 31 innings and has scored 1485 runs. His average of 61.87 is the second-best in Test cricket. He has 5 centuries to his name. His best batting came against West Indies in Hobart in 2015, in which he scored 269*.
3. Graeme Pollock (60.97)
Graeme Pollock was a South African left-handed batter who played in 41 innings and scored 2256 runs. His average in Test cricket is 60.97 and has 7 Test centuries to his credit. In 1970 against Australia in Durban, he scored his career-best 274 to help South Africa win by an innings and 129 runs.
4. George Headley (60.83)
George Headley was a Jamaica-born West Indian batter who is the second-fastest batter in history to score 2000 runs in a Test career. He played in 40 innings and scored 2190 runs with the highest score of 270*. He has 10 centuries and 5 half-centuries to his name. His skills earned him the name of “Black Bradman.”
5. Herbert Sutcliffe (60.73)
Herbert Sutcliffe was born in 1894 in Yorkshire. He scored 4555 runs in 84 innings at an average of 60.73. In 1927, he became the first English batter to be dismissed for 99. He is also the joint fastest-batter to score 1000 runs in his Test career.
6. Steve Smith (59.87)
Steve Smith is probably one of the best modern-day batters in the world. He started his international career as a leg-spinner but has flourished as a specialist batter. He has an average of 59.87 in 147 innings. Against Pakistan in 2019, he became the fastest batter to score 7000 career runs in Test cricket.
7. Eddie Paynter (59.23)
Although Eddie Paynter played only 31 innings for England, he made sure that his stats remained untarnished. He scored 1540 runs at an average of 59.23 and is the second English batter to be dismissed on 99.
8. Ken Barrington (58.67)
Kenneth Barrington was a right-handed batter from Berkshire in England. He represented England in 131 innings and scored 6806 runs at an average of 58.67. His best knock came against Australia in Manchester in 1964, when he scored 256 in the second innings.
9. Everton Weekes (58.61)
Everton Weekes was born in Saint Michael in Barbados in 1925. He made his Test debut for West Indies in 1948 and scored 4455 runs in his career of 10 years. He has the second-best Test average (58.61) among the West Indian batters. He is the first West Indian batter to score half-centuries in 7 consecutive innings.
10. Wally Hammond (58.45)
Wally Hammond played first for Gloucestershire and then represented his country England. He made his debut in 1927 and played Test cricket for 20 fruitful years. He scored 7249 runs in 140 innings at an average of 58.45. He has 22 centuries to his name.
