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Maintaining high standards

Which players have maintained consistently excellent batting and bowling averages through their Test careers?


Javed Miandad's average never dipped below 50 during his 124-Test career © Cricinfo
 
It's common knowledge that the lowest bowling average in Test cricket, 10.75, belongs to George Lohmann, and even more commonly known that the highest batting average is Don Bradman's 99.94. But which players have maintained a consistently excellent batting average, or a miserly bowling mean, throughout their careers or for the best part of it? The List investigates.
Five batsmen - Herbert Sutcliffe , Desmond Lewis , Rodney Redmond , Vic Stollmeyer and Andy Ganteaume - averaged above 60 throughout their careers. However, Lewis played only three Tests and Redmond, Stollmeyer and Ganteaume just one each. Sutcliffe, though, began his career with 64 against South Africa and never let his average drop below 60 during his 54-Test career over a span of 11 years. His average peaked at 99.33 after his third Test and dipped to its lowest point - 60.73 - in his final match.
If we look at batsmen who averaged above 60 for the largest percentage of their careers (with a qualification of at least 50 innings), Bradman slots in at second place after Sutcliffe. It took Bradman seven innings at the start of his career to get his average over 60 and only after his 10th did he permanently keep it above that mark. His highest average was 112.29, after he scored an unbeaten 299 against South Africa in his 18th Test.

Highest percentage of career with a batting average of 60 or above - Tests (qualification: 50 innings in career)
Player Span Mat InnsRuns HS 100 Min MaxFinal >60 Inns %
H Sutcliffe (Eng) 1924-1935 54 84 4555194 16 60.73 99.33 60.73 84 84 100.00
DG Bradman (Aus)1928-1948 52 80 6996 334 29 9.50 112.29 99.94 73 8091.25
ED Weekes (WI) 1948-1958 48 814455 207 15 29.00 88.0058.61 56 81 69.13
WR Hammond (Eng) 1927-1947 85 140 7249 336*22 36.00 75.47 58.45 66140 47.14
FMM Worrell (WI) 1948-1963 5187 3860 261 9 49.48256.00 49.48 37 87 42.52
JC Adams (WI) 1992-2001 54 90 3012208* 6 11.00 94.00 41.26 38 90 42.22
AR Morris (Aus)1946-1955 46 79 3533 206 12 2.00 85.79 46.48 32 7940.50
GS Sobers (WI) 1954-1974 93 1608032 365* 26 28.66 64.9757.78 62 159 38.99
RN Harvey (Aus) 1948-1963 79 137 6149 20521 13.00 106.55 48.41 49137 35.76
KD Walters (Aus) 1965-1981 74125 5357 250 15 47.03155.00 48.26 41 125 32.80
TT Samaraweera (SL) 2001-2008 42 64 2309142 6 40.03 180.00 41.98 19 63 30.15
NC O'Neill (Aus)1958-1965 42 69 2779 181 6 34.00 105.00 45.55 19 6927.53
DCS Compton (Eng) 1937-1957 78 1315807 278 17 42.94 83.5050.06 35 131 26.71
Javed Miandad (Pak) 1976-1993 124 189 8832 280*23 51.74 188.00 52.57 50189 26.45
L Hutton (Eng) 1937-1955 79138 6971 364 19 0.0067.25 56.67 23 138 16.66
As many as 14 batsmen had averages of more than 50 for their entire career, but Sutcliffe apart, only one of them played more than seven Tests. Javed Miandad began his career with 163 and finished his debut Test, against New Zealand, with an average of 188. That was as high as it got but Miandad sustained an average of above 50 during his 124-Test career that spanned 17 years.
Frank Worrell maintained an average of more than 50 for 96.55% of his career - 84 innings out of 87. He scored 97 on debut against England, and by the end of his second Test his average had soared to 256. However, it began to dip from those dizzy heights, and in his 42nd Test, Worrell's average fell below 50 for the first time. The dip lasted only two innings, though, before he pushed it above 50 once again. Before the start of his 51st - and final - Test, Worrell averaged 50.01 and a dismissal for 9 in the first innings pushed it to 49.48. An eight-wicket victory ensured that Worrell did not bat in the second innings.

Highest percentage of career with a batting average of 50 or above - Tests (qualification: 50 innings in career)
Player Span Mat InnsRuns HS 100 Min MaxFinal >50 Inns %
Javed Miandad (Pak) 1976-1993 124 189 8832280* 23 51.74 188.00 52.57 189 189 100.00
H Sutcliffe (Eng)1924-1935 54 84 4555 194 16 60.73 99.33 60.73 84 84100.00
FMM Worrell (WI) 1948-1963 51 873860 261 9 49.48 256.0049.48 84 87 96.55
DG Bradman (Aus) 1928-1948 52 80 6996 33429 9.50 112.29 99.94 7780 96.25
L Hutton (Eng) 1937-1955 79138 6971 364 19 0.0067.25 56.67 130 138 94.20
ED Weekes (WI) 1948-1958 48 81 4455207 15 29.00 88.00 58.61 75 81 92.59
WR Hammond (Eng)1927-1947 85 140 7249 336* 22 36.00 75.47 58.45 127 14090.71
SM Gavaskar (India) 1971-1987 125 21410122 236* 34 47.70 156.0051.12 190 214 88.78
IVA Richards (WI) 1974-1991 121 182 8540 29124 3.50 99.50 50.23 160182 87.91
DCS Compton (Eng) 1937-1957 78131 5807 278 17 42.9483.50 50.06 115 131 87.78
RN Harvey (Aus) 1948-1963 79 137 6149205 21 13.00 106.55 48.41 119 137 86.86
R Dravid (ICC/India)1996-2008 122 210 10098 270 25 34.61 95.00 54.88 182 21086.66
GS Sobers (WI) 1954-1974 93 1608032 365* 26 28.66 64.9757.78 131 159 82.38
AC Gilchrist (Aus) 1999-2008 96 137 5570 204*17 43.50 118.00 47.60 112137 81.75
SR Tendulkar (India) 1989-2008 147238 11782 248* 39 15.0059.16 55.31 192 238 80.67
Sunil Gavaskar had an average of above 40 for his entire career - 125 Tests - but his achievement could be eclipsed by Sourav Ganguly, who began his career with a century at Lord's and has kept his average above 40 for all of his 106 Tests . Ganguly currently averages 42.71 and needs to play another 19 Tests to go past Gavaskar. David Gower also maintained a 40-plus average over 204 innings : his average never went above 66 and didn't fall below 40.52.

Highest percentage of career with a batting average of 40 or above - Tests (qualification: 50 innings in career)
Player Span Mat InnsRuns HS 100 Min MaxFinal >40 Inns %
SM Gavaskar (India) 1971-1987 125 214 10122236* 34 47.70 156.00 51.12 214 214 100.00
DI Gower (Eng)1978-1992 117 204 8231 215 18 40.52 66.00 44.25 204 204100.00
Javed Miandad (Pak) 1976-1993 124 1898832 280* 23 51.74 188.0052.57 189 189 100.00
SC Ganguly (India) 1996-2008 106 174 6792 23915 40.41 133.50 42.71 174174 100.00
M Azharuddin (India) 1984-2000 99147 6215 199 22 43.95110.00 45.03 147 147 100.00
AC Gilchrist (Aus) 1999-2008 96 137 5570204* 17 43.50 118.00 47.60 137 137 100.00
DCS Compton (Eng)1937-1957 78 131 5807 278 17 42.94 83.50 50.06 131 131100.00
KD Walters (Aus) 1965-1981 74 1255357 250 15 47.03 155.0048.26 125 125 100.00
WM Lawry (Aus) 1961-1971 67 123 5234 21013 40.29 93.50 47.15 123123 100.00
AI Kallicharran (WI) 1972-1981 66109 4399 187 12 44.31201.00 44.43 108 108 100.00
FMM Worrell (WI) 1948-1963 51 87 3860261 9 49.48 256.00 49.48 87 87 100.00
H Sutcliffe (Eng)1924-1935 54 84 4555 194 16 60.73 99.33 60.73 84 84100.00
CC Hunte (WI) 1958-1967 44 783245 260 8 40.91 153.0045.06 78 78 100.00
TT Samaraweera (SL) 2001-2008 42 64 2309 1426 40.03 180.00 41.98 6363 100.00
AN Cook (Eng) 2006-2008 2852 2191 127 7 42.61164.00 43.82 52 52 100.00
Among bowlers, Charlie Turner's 17-Test career is the longest for a bowler who averaged below 20 through his career. Turner took 6 for 15 in the first innings of his debut , against England , giving him an average of 2.50, and it wasn't until his sixth Test - in which he took his 50th wicket - that his average inched over 10.
Johnny Briggs could have had an average of below 20 during his 33-Test career but he bowled only once - in his second Test - over his first six matches and took 0 for 13. He began to bowl regularly from his seventh game and took 11 for 74, giving him an average of 7.90. Briggs became the first bowler to take 100 Test wickets - Turner became the second, in the same Test - and finished his career with an average of 17.75.

Highest percentage of career with a bowling average below 20 - Tests (qualification: 5000 balls in career, DNB counts as an innings)
Player SpanMat Inns Balls Wkts BBI 5 Min Max Final <20 Inns%
CTB Turner (Aus) 1887-1895 1730 5179 101 7/43 11 2.50 17.30 16.53 30 30100.00
R Peel (Eng) 1884-1896 20 355216 101 7/31 5 12.5923.12 16.98 31 38 81.57
J Briggs (Eng) 1884-1899 33 49 5332118 8/11 9 7.90 -17.75 51 63 80.95
WA Johnston (Aus) 1947-1955 40 75 11048 1606/44 7 8.50 23.91 23.91 49 79 62.02
SF Barnes (Eng)1901-1914 27 50 7873 189 9/10324 13.00 23.16 16.43 2552 48.07
RR Lindwall (Aus) 1946-1960 61113 13650 228 7/38 12 13.00 35.00 23.03 47 11740.17
RM Hogg (Aus) 1978-1984 38 667633 123 6/74 6 11.0028.47 28.47 20 69 28.98
IT Botham (Eng) 1977-1992 102 168 21815383 8/34 27 14.80 28.4028.40 49 179 27.37
W Rhodes (Eng) 1899-1930 58 90 8225 1278/68 6 14.50 31.39 26.96 30 110 27.27
Waqar Younis (Pak)1989-2003 87 154 16224 373 7/7622 17.77 55.33 23.56 40158 25.31
MW Tate (Eng) 1924-1935 3968 12523 155 6/42 7 3.00 26.63 26.16 16 6823.52
GG Arnold (Eng) 1967-1975 34 617650 115 6/45 6 11.6628.29 28.29 13 61 21.31
NAT Adcock (SA) 1953-1962 26 46 6391104 6/43 5 16.09 -21.10 10 48 20.83
WW Hall (WI) 1958-1969 48 92 10421 1927/69 9 11.66 26.75 26.38 19 92 20.65
DL Underwood (Eng)1966-1982 86 151 21862 297 8/5117 16.83 - 25.83 30157 19.10
Among the 20 bowlers who averaged below 25 throughout their careers, there's only one from the 21st century. Stuart Clark has played only 15 Tests to date but his Test average has not gone above his current average of 21.88 at any stage of his career. He'll need to perform exceptionally, though, to beat Bill Johnston's record of 40 Tests with an average of below 25.

Highest percentage of career with a bowling average below 25 - Tests (qualification: 5000 balls in career, DNB counts as an innings)
Player Span Mat Inns BallsWkts BBI 5 Min MaxFinal <25 Inns %
WA Johnston (Aus) 1947-1955 40 75 11048160 6/44 7 8.50 23.9123.91 79 79 100.00
SF Barnes (Eng) 1901-1914 27 50 7873 1899/103 24 13.00 23.16 16.43 52 52 100.00
R Peel (Eng)1884-1896 20 35 5216 101 7/315 12.59 23.12 16.98 3838 100.00
CTB Turner (Aus) 1887-1895 1730 5179 101 7/43 11 2.50 17.30 16.53 30 30100.00
FS Trueman (Eng) 1952-1965 67 12715178 307 8/31 17 13.3129.66 21.57 127 128 99.21
KR Miller (Aus) 1946-1956 55 95 10461170 7/60 7 3.00 -22.97 104 105 99.04
CEH Croft (WI) 1977-1982 27 52 6165 1258/29 3 10.73 28.33 23.30 51 52 98.07
DK Lillee (Aus)1971-1984 70 132 18467 355 7/8323 16.80 26.00 23.92 128133 96.24
IR Bishop (WI) 1989-1998 4376 8407 161 6/40 6 17.00 - 24.27 76 7996.20
NAT Adcock (SA) 1953-1962 26 466391 104 6/43 5 16.09- 21.10 46 48 95.83
SM Pollock (SA) 1995-2008 108 202 24353421 7/87 16 19.82 41.0023.11 195 205 95.12
RR Lindwall (Aus) 1946-1960 61 113 13650 2287/38 12 13.00 35.00 23.03 111 117 94.87
Waqar Younis (Pak)1989-2003 87 154 16224 373 7/7622 17.77 55.33 23.56 148158 93.67
MA Noble (Aus) 1898-1909 4271 7159 121 7/17 9 11.42 31.00 25.00 73 7992.40
J Garner (WI) 1977-1987 58 11113169 259 6/56 7 19.3133.85 20.97 101 111 90.99
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