Test verdict list
Best Test Batters of the 2010s
Steven Smith rises above Kumar Sangakkara by a breath. Kumar Sangakkara keeps the better away average in Test batting, 60.46 to 60.15. Steven Smith's volume in Test batting settles it, 7,164 runs to 4,851 runs.
Australia
- Average
- 62.84
- Away average
- 60.15
- Average vs strong opposition
- 64.85
- Consistency
- 41.54
- Average in wins
- 81.33
- Volume
- 7,164 runs
Sri Lanka
- Average
- 61.41
- Away average
- 60.46
- Average vs strong opposition
- 47.00
- Consistency
- 43.02
- Average in wins
- 60.48
- Volume
- 4,851 runs
India
- Average
- 54.98
- Away average
- 46.13
- Average vs strong opposition
- 51.87
- Consistency
- 34.75
- Average in wins
- 60.50
- Volume
- 7,202 runs
South Africa
- Average
- 57.49
- Away average
- 46.42
- Average vs strong opposition
- 45.10
- Consistency
- 40.82
- Average in wins
- 72.77
- Volume
- 5,059 runs
England
- Average
- 48.41
- Away average
- 44.00
- Average vs strong opposition
- 50.49
- Consistency
- 37.80
- Average in wins
- 62.36
- Volume
- 7,359 runs
South Africa
- Average
- 49.96
- Away average
- 47.49
- Average vs strong opposition
- 50.02
- Consistency
- 32.88
- Average in wins
- 63.31
- Volume
- 6,695 runs
New Zealand
- Average
- 51.44
- Away average
- 42.54
- Average vs strong opposition
- 42.15
- Consistency
- 37.96
- Average in wins
- 74.02
- Volume
- 6,379 runs
Pakistan
- Average
- 54.37
- Away average
- 51.50
- Average vs strong opposition
- 48.64
- Consistency
- 29.70
- Average in wins
- 80.88
- Volume
- 4,839 runs
West Indies
- Average
- 60.34
- Away average
- 60.20
- Average vs strong opposition
- 48.66
- Consistency
- 31.43
- Average in wins
- 102.20
- Volume
- 3,198 runs
England
- Average
- 46.41
- Away average
- 48.23
- Average vs strong opposition
- 46.40
- Consistency
- 29.85
- Average in wins
- 56.30
- Volume
- 8,818 runs
- Steven Smith
- 98.9 — led by Volume (34.7 of it), then Average (29.6)
- Kumar Sangakkara
- 97.1 — led by Volume (33.7 of it), then Average (29.4)
- Virat Kohli
- 96.6 — led by Volume (34.8 of it), then Average (28.5)
- AB de Villiers
- 96.1 — led by Volume (33.8 of it), then Average (28.9)
- Joe Root
- 95.5 — led by Volume (34.9 of it), then Average (27.3)
- Hashim Amla
- 95.3 — led by Volume (34.5 of it), then Average (27.6)
- Kane Williamson
- 95.1 — led by Volume (34.4 of it), then Average (28.1)
- Younis Khan
- 95.0 — led by Volume (33.6 of it), then Average (28.4)
- Shivnarine Chanderpaul
- 94.2 — led by Volume (31.3 of it), then Average (29.2)
- Alastair Cook
- 93.7 — led by Volume (35.0 of it), then Average (26.7)
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 335 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.