Highest Career Batting Average in Tests (Ranked 25 to 1)

Sachin Tendulkar

It is quite surprising that the record run-getter in Test cricket history and Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar occupies the 25th spot on this list. Tendulkar played 200 Test matches, also the most by any player on this list, and scored 15,921 runs at a consistent average of 53.78, including 51 hundreds and 68 fifties throughout his career.

Dudley Nourse

Former South African captain Dudley Nourse played 34 Test matches for the Proteas throughout his career, which spanned from 1935 to 1951. Nourse scored 2,960 runs in this period, at a remarkable average of 53.81, hitting nine centuries and 14 half-centuries, while also boasting a first-class average of 51.53.

Greg Chappell

One of the most controversial players in international cricket history, Australian legend Greg Chappell was known for his elegant stroke-playing ability, with fierce concentration. Chappell played 87 Test matches for the Aussies from 1970 to 1984, scoring 7,110 runs at an average of 53.86, alongside an ODI batting average of 40.18.

Vinod Kambli

Former Indian opener Vinod Kambli has the highest career batting average for a Test cricketer from the country, of 54.20, having featured in only 17 matches throughout his career. He however, played his last Test when he was just 23 years old, primarily due to his inconsistent performances as well as several off-pitch disciplinary issues.

Charlie Davis

Having represented the West Indies Test team from 1968 to 1973, Charlie Davis had a rather short-lived career with the side, having featured in only 15 Test matches. Davis scored 1,301 runs in the matches that he played in, at a brilliant average of 54.20, hitting four hundreds and four fifties.

Kane Williamson

New Zealand's all-time leading run-scorer in the longest format of the game, former captain and ace batter Kane Williamson is widely regarded as one of the greatest Kiwi batters of all time. A part of the contemporary 'Fab Four' in Test cricket, Williamson has enjoyed a Test batting average of 54.8 in the 105 matches that he has played so far.

Ernest Tyldesley

One of the most prolific run-getter in County cricket history, Ernest Tyldesley is among the few batters to have scored 100 centuries in first-class cricket. He was a part for the Three Lions squad that won the Ashes twice, in 1926 and 1929, scoring 990 runs in 14 Test matches internationally, at an average of 55.00.

Jacques Kallis

South African all-round legend Jacques Kallis is one of the very few Test all-rounders whose Test batting average is over 50, with the Proteas icon boasting a career average of 55.37. He is in fact, the only cricketer in the history of the game to score more than 10,000 runs and take over 250 wickets in both the ODI and Test formats.

Steve Smith

Australian icon Steve Smith was named the ICC Men's Test Player of the Decade from 2011 to 2020, and is still going strong, despite having turned 36 years old. Smith has played 119 Test matches throughout his career so far, scoring 10,4777 runs at a remarkable average of 56.02, hitting 36 centuries and 43 half-centuries.

Len Hutton

One of the greatest batters in the history of red-ball cricket, Englishman Sir Leonard 'Len' Hutton played 79 Test matches for the Three Lions between 1937 and 1955, scoring 6,971 runs at an average of 56.67. His individual Test score of 364 runs against Australia, in fact, remains the highest by any player from the country in history.

Clyde Walcott

A member of the great 'three W's' of West Indies cricket from the 1950s, Clyde Walcott was also the manager of the Caribbean side that won the 1975 and 1979 ICC Cricket World Cups. Walcott played 44 Test matches throughout his career, scoring 3,798 runs at an average of 56.68, hitting 15 hundreds and 14 fifties.

Jack Hobbs

The all-time leading run-getter in first-class cricket history with 61,760 runs and 199 centuries, former England legend Jack Hobbs is known as 'the Master' of red-ball cricket. He represented the Three Lions 61 times throughout his career, scoring 5,410 runs at an average of 56.94, hitting 15 hundreds and 28 fifties.

Kumar Sangakkara

The all-time second highest run-getter in international cricket history across all the three formats of the game, Kumar Sangakkara is one of the only 15 players to have scored over 10,000 runs in Test cricket. Sangakkara played in 134 red-ball matches throughout his career, scoring runs at an average of 57.40, including 38 hundreds and 52 fifties.

Harry Brook

England's current white-ball skipper, Harry Brook has quickly risen to fame over the past few years, since making his international debut for England in 2022. He has featured in 30 Test matches so far, scoring 2,280 runs at an average of 57.55, including 10 hundreds and 13 fifties, and even made it to the top of the ICC Test Batting Rankings for a while.

Gary Sobers

One of the greatest all-rounders of all time, Sir Garfield Sobers played 93 Test matches for the West Indies national side, scoring 8,032 runs at a brilliant average of 57.78, which was the highest for an all-rounder at the time. Sobers also scalped 235 wickets during the period, bowling at an average of 34.03.

Wally Hammond

One of the best English batters from the 1930s, Wally Hammond played 85 Test matches for the Three Lions, throughout his career that spanned almost two decades, from 1927 to 1947. Hammond scored 7,249 runs in the period, at a stellar average of 58.45, hitting 22 hundreds and 24 fifties, while also scalping 83 wickets.

Everton Weekes

Another member of the iconic 'Three Ws' of West Indies cricket, Everton Weekes holds the record for the most consecutive Test centuries, with five to his name. He played 48 Test matches throughout his career, scoring 4,455 runs at an average of 58.61, before going on to become the coach of the Canadian national cricket team.

Ken Barrington

Widely regarded as one of the best English batters of all time for his determination and concentration, Ken Barrington played 82 Test matches for the Three Lions, throughout his career. Barrington scored 6,806 runs at an average of 58.67, hitting 20 hundreds and 35 fifties, while boasting over 30,000 runs in first-class cricket.

Eddie Paynter

Another English cricketer to occupy a spot on this list, former icon Eddie Paynter is best remembered for his 83-run knock during the 1932-33 Ashes against Australia, where he led his team to victory despite remaining in the hospital. Paynter had a Test batting average of 59.23 throughout his career, featuring in 20 Test matches.

Herbert Sutcliffe

Most famous for his Test partnership with Jack Hobbs, Herbert Sutcliffe is another English cricketing legend, having played 54 matches for the Thee Lions throughout his career. Despite his career being interrupted by the 2nd World War, Sutcliffe scored 4,555 runs for his country, at an average of 60.73, hitting 16 hundreds and 23 fifties.

George Headley

One of the earliest players to have emerged out of West Indies, George Headley primarily batted at number three, featuring in 22 Test matches throughout his international career. He scored 2,190 runs at an average of 60.83, including ten hundreds and five fifties, and was chosen the Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1934.

Graeme Pollock

Often regarded as one of South Africa's greatest-ever cricketers, Graeme Pollock's international career was cut short at the age of 26, due to the sporting boycott of the Proteas national side. Pollock played 23 Test matches for his country, scoring 2,256 runs at an average of 60.97, hitting seven hundreds and 11 fifties.

Adam Voges

The third spot on this list is occupied by former Australian batter Adam Voges, who was named in the ICC Test Team of the Year in 2016. A member of Australia's 2009 ICC Champions Trophy-winning squad, Voges played in just 20 Test matches for his country, scoring 1,485 runs at an average of 61.87, second-highest for an Aussie.

Kamindu Mendis

The ICC Men's Emerging Cricketer of the Year awardee in 2024, young Sri Lankan all-rounder Kamindu Mendis has only played 14 Test matches for his country, since making his debut in July 2022. Mendis has scored 1,316 runs so far, at a remarkable average of 62.66, hitting five hundreds and five fifties, putting him second on this elite list.

Don Bradman

Australian great Don Bradman's Test batting average of 99.94 puts him on top of this elite list of players, and is considered by many as the greatest cricketing achievement ever. Bradman played 52 matches for the Aussies from 1928 to 1948, scoring 6,996 runs , including 29 hundreds and 13 half-centuries.