Batting average in cricket is one of the easy ways to analyze a player's past performance in any form of cricket. Batting averages are often used to compare players with each other. The batting average alone can not predict the performance of a batter. Multiple factors need to be considered while measuring the ability of a player.

Batting Average Calculation

A player's batting average is the total number of runs they have scored divided by the number of times they have been out. So when a player gets out less in a cricket format, the player may accumulate a bigger batting average compared to a different player who got out in all innings with the same matches and had the same runs.

   

Best Batting Average in Test Cricket

Rank Batter Tests Innings No Runs High Score Average Test career dates
1 Don Bradman 52 80 10 6996 334 99.94 1928–48
2 Adam Voges 20 31 7 1485 269* 61.87 2015–16
3 RG Pollock 23 41 4 2256 274 60.97 1963–70
4 George Headley 22 40 4 2190 270* 60.83 1930–54
5 Herbert Sutcliffe 54 84 9 4555 194 60.73 1924–35
6 Steve Smith 87 154 18 8161 239 60.00 2010–present
7 Eddie Paynter 20 31 5 1540 243 59.23 1931–39
8 Ken Barrington 82 131 15 6806 256 58.67 1955–68
9 Everton Weekes 48 81 5 4455 207 58.61 1948–58
10 Wally Hammond 85 140 16 7249 336* 58.45 1927–47
Top Batting Averages in Test cricket with at least 20 innings

  • The batting average does not depend on the number of matches a player played in their carrier.
  • The batting average tends to be on the lower side for lower-end players
  • A player with a good batting average can be considered a finisher. Usually, a player needs to play long innings to have a better average.
  • The player's batting average tends to increase if he has an excellent ability to protect his wicket.
  • It is better to consider the batting average separately in each format of cricket.