Test verdict list
Best Test Batters of the 1970s
Sunil Gavaskar rises above Geoff Boycott by a breath. Geoff Boycott keeps the better average in wins in Test batting, 58.10 to 44.96. Sunil Gavaskar's volume in Test batting settles it, 5,647 runs to 3,806 runs.
India
- Average
- 55.91
- Away average
- 65.92
- Average vs strong opposition
- 55.70
- Consistency
- 43.52
- Average in wins
- 44.96
- Volume
- 5,647 runs
England
- Average
- 55.97
- Away average
- 50.92
- Average vs strong opposition
- 53.90
- Consistency
- 42.86
- Average in wins
- 58.10
- Volume
- 3,806 runs
Australia
- Average
- 52.99
- Away average
- 47.55
- Average vs strong opposition
- 50.84
- Consistency
- 37.50
- Average in wins
- 66.52
- Volume
- 4,398 runs
West Indies
- Average
- 58.21
- Away average
- 62.03
- Average vs strong opposition
- 70.59
- Consistency
- 36.73
- Average in wins
- 66.39
- Volume
- 2,736 runs
West Indies
- Average
- 49.45
- Away average
- 51.02
- Average vs strong opposition
- 43.46
- Consistency
- 34.83
- Average in wins
- 57.32
- Volume
- 3,956 runs
Australia
- Average
- 50.19
- Away average
- 53.85
- Average vs strong opposition
- 46.98
- Consistency
- 39.06
- Average in wins
- 57.48
- Volume
- 2,861 runs
West Indies
- Average
- 45.89
- Away average
- 45.64
- Average vs strong opposition
- 49.08
- Consistency
- 33.33
- Average in wins
- 61.35
- Volume
- 3,809 runs
India
- Average
- 46.11
- Away average
- 41.21
- Average vs strong opposition
- 46.27
- Consistency
- 35.19
- Average in wins
- 50.33
- Volume
- 4,611 runs
New Zealand
- Average
- 49.38
- Away average
- 46.76
- Average vs strong opposition
- 55.07
- Consistency
- 32.69
- Average in wins
- 137.50
- Volume
- 2,370 runs
West Indies
- Average
- 45.72
- Away average
- 53.42
- Average vs strong opposition
- 44.61
- Consistency
- 30.86
- Average in wins
- 64.35
- Volume
- 3,475 runs
- Sunil Gavaskar
- 97.5 — led by Volume (35.0 of it), then Average (28.7)
- Geoff Boycott
- 96.4 — led by Volume (34.0 of it), then Average (28.9)
- Greg Chappell
- 96.2 — led by Volume (34.6 of it), then Average (28.2)
- Viv Richards
- 95.5 — led by Volume (32.1 of it), then Average (29.2)
- Alvin Kallicharran
- 94.2 — led by Volume (34.4 of it), then Average (27.4)
- Ian Redpath
- 93.6 — led by Volume (32.5 of it), then Average (27.8)
- Roy Fredericks
- 93.0 — led by Volume (34.2 of it), then Average (26.4)
- Gundappa Viswanath
- 92.8 — led by Volume (34.8 of it), then Average (26.5)
- Glenn Turner
- 91.2 — led by Volume (31.0 of it), then Average (27.3)
- Clive Lloyd
- 91.1 — led by Volume (33.1 of it), then Average (26.1)
Transparent by design
How this ranking was calculated
The list is computed from scorecards, not selected by an AI model. Every player is measured against the same qualified peer population, and the rules below determine the order.
- Build the eligible peer population using the selected format, time window and qualification bars.
- Calculate every batting or bowling factor directly from the matching scorecards.
- Convert each factor to a score against qualified peers, respecting whether higher or lower is better.
- Apply the published weights. If a factor is unavailable, its weight is redistributed across that player's recorded factors.
- Add the weighted factors to produce the verdict score out of 100, then rank from highest to lowest.
Compared with 183 batters who played at least 10 innings.
Contribution: total runs or wickets measure output within the selected period.
Fixed-era weighting: longevity is not scored because a player should not be penalised when only part of their career overlaps the era. Its allocation moves to runs or wickets.
Test average magnitude: overall averages use 85% peer position and 15% raw distance from the best qualified average. For bowlers the ratio is reversed because a lower average is better. Contextual averages remain pure percentiles.
Editorial scope: this is a transparent judgement model, not an official record table. It does not insert or promote named players, and it applies no blanket era multiplier.