Test Cricket’s Top 10 Batters by Career Batting Average

Test cricket is the oldest and most respected form of the game. It tests skill, patience, and endurance. Batting in Tests is not easy. Conditions change. Bowlers attack with pace, spin, and swing. Only the best survive and score big. A great Test batter is judged by one key stat – batting average. It shows consistency and class. A high average means the player delivered over time. Some did it in short bursts. Others shone over decades. This list highlights the test cricket’s top 10 batters with the highest career averages. Their numbers are unmatched. Their place in history is secure. This includes players who’ve played more than 20 innings.

1. Don Bradman (Australia) – 99.94

Sir Donald Bradman is the greatest cricketer of all time. He played Test cricket for Australia from 1928 to 1948. Bradman featured in 52 Tests. He scored 6,996 runs. His average of 99.94 is unmatched. No one else has come close. He was one of the top 10 greatest cricket captain of all time. His top score was 334. He hit 29 centuries and 13 fifties. He needed just four more runs in his final innings to average 100. Bradman’s dominance is beyond compare.

2. Adam Voges (Australia) – 61.87

Adam Voges had a short but brilliant Test career. He played 20 Tests between 2015 and 2016. In that time, he scored 1,485 runs. His average of 61.87 is the second-highest in history. He made five centuries and four fifties. His highest score was 269 not out against the West Indies. Though his time was brief, his impact was lasting.

3. Graeme Pollock (South Africa) – 60.97

Graeme Pollock was a South African batting legend. He played 23 Tests between 1963 and 1970. He scored 2,256 runs. His average was an outstanding 60.97. His best score was 274. He registered seven hundreds and 11 half-centuries. His career ended early due to apartheid-era bans. Still, his numbers place him among the best.

4. George Headley (West Indies) – 60.83

George Headley was West Indies’ first batting star. He played 22 Tests from 1930 to 1954. Headley scored 2,190 runs. His average was 60.83. He made 10 centuries and five fifties. His highest score was 270 not out. He was called the “Black Bradman.” He often carried the team alone.

5. Herbert Sutcliffe (England) – 60.73

Herbert Sutcliffe was a model of grit. He played 54 Tests from 1924 to 1935. He scored 4,555 runs. His batting average was 60.73. His top score was 194. He made 16 centuries and 23 half-centuries. Sutcliffe thrived in the Ashes series. He was known for his calm under pressure.

6. Eddie Paynter (England) – 59.23

Eddie Paynter had a short, impactful career. He played 20 Tests from 1931 to 1939. He scored 1,540 runs. His average was 59.23. His highest score was 243. He made four centuries. He once scored 83 while sick during the Bodyline series. He helped win that match.

7. Ken Barrington (England) – 58.67

Ken Barrington was a rock in England’s middle order. He played 82 Tests from 1955 to 1968. He scored 6,806 runs. His average was 58.67. His top score was 256. He made 20 centuries and 35 fifties. He was known for his defense and patience. He gave England stability for over a decade.

8. Everton Weekes (West Indies) – 58.61

Everton Weekes was part of the famous “Three Ws.” He played 48 Tests from 1948 to 1958. He scored 4,455 runs. His average was 58.61. His best score was 207. He made 15 centuries and 19 fifties. He once scored five Test hundreds in a row. That record still stands.

9. Harry Brook (England) – 58.47

Harry Brook is a modern star on the rise. He made his Test debut in 2022. As of June 2025, he has played 25 Tests. He has scored 2,339 runs. His average is 58.47. His top score is 317, a triple century. He has made eight centuries and seven fifties. He is now the ICC’s No. 1 Test batter.

10. Wally Hammond (England) – 58.45

Wally Hammond was England’s top batter before WWII. He played 85 Tests from 1927 to 1947. He scored 7,249 runs. His average was 58.45. His highest score was 336 not out. He made 22 centuries and 24 half-centuries. He was elegant, powerful, and dominant. He was the star of his era.

Comparison Table

Spotlight on Harry Brook (No. 9)

Harry Brook made his Test debut in 2022. Since then, he has scored 8 centuries. His highest score is 317. That triple-century came in October 2024 against Pakistan. It was a dominant knock. Brook plays with confidence and flair. He handles pace and spin equally well. His consistency has been outstanding. As of now, he is ranked ICC No. 1 in Test batting. He is still young. He is improving with every match. A future legend in the making.

Almost in the List

• Steve Smith has an average of around 56.7 after 207 innings.
• Kumar Sangakkara averaged close to 57.4 in his Test career.
• Garfield Sobers ended with an average of about 57.8.
• Joe Root, one of England’s best, averages around 50.8.

All are legends of the game.But none make the top ten for highest averages. Why? Their averages fall below 58.45. That’s the cutoff. It shows how rare such consistency is. Even the greats missed this elite list.

Why Batting Average Still Matters in Test Cricket

In Test cricket, the batting average remains the gold standard. It reflects how many runs a player scores before getting out. This makes it a true measure of consistency and skill. Strike rate matters in T20s. But in Tests, lasting long and building an innings matters more. Over years, bowlers adapt, conditions change, and form fluctuates. Yet, batters who maintain a high average show true greatness. That’s why Bradman’s 99.94 still stands as the peak. Even modern stars like Brook, Smith, and Root chase that level. In the end, the batting average is more than a number. It’s a legacy etched in the history of the game.

Era Differences

Don Bradman played on uncovered pitches. These surfaces were rough and unpredictable. Rain made them even harder to bat on. There were no helmets or chest guards. Protective gear was minimal in his era. He faced fierce bowling with little safety. Modern batters deal with different threats. They face faster bowlers and reverse swing. They also contend with DRS and advanced analytics. Pitches today are more uniform and stable. Each era brings unique challenges. It’s difficult to compare across generations. But true greatness always shines through. Bradman and others proved that with their numbers.

Short vs Long Careers

Adam Voges and Harry Brook rose quickly. Voges played only 20 Test matches. Brook has played 25 Tests so far. Both showed elite form in short spans. Their averages reflect early success. But long careers often change numbers. Form dips, conditions vary, and competition toughens. Sustaining high averages is difficult over time. Short careers can highlight peaks. Long careers smooth out the highs and lows. Both paths deserve recognition.

Could Active Players Break In?

Yes, Harry Brook could rise even higher. He is young and improving fast. More big scores will boost his average. Steve Smith and others are close. But they need to cross 58. That requires consistent top form. Maintaining it over many innings is tough. Only a few manage that. The race is close. Brook might lead the way.

Final Thoughts on Test Cricket’s Top 10 batters

Don Bradman sits alone at the top. His average of 99.94 is unmatched. No other batter has come close. Bradman’s greatness is timeless. Adam Voges had a short but stunning run. He played just 20 Tests. But his average was elite. Harry Brook is a modern sensation. He is scoring heavily at a young age. His triple-century grabbed global attention. He is rising fast in the rankings. Historic greats like Sangakkara and Sobers are below 58. That shows how rare such averages are. Over long careers, form dips. Conditions change. Opponents study weaknesses. Maintaining a high average gets harder. Yet, the best still stand out. Career average reflects consistency and greatness. It is cricket’s ultimate batting measure.