Test verdict list
Best Test Batters of the 2020s
Harry Brook rises above Joe Root by a breath. Joe Root keeps the better volume in Test batting, 6,849 runs to 3,535 runs. Harry Brook's consistency in Test batting settles it, 42.03 to 32.87.
England
- Average
- 52.76
- Away average
- 67.07
- Average vs strong opposition
- 49.07
- Consistency
- 42.03
- Average in wins
- 64.83
- Volume
- 3,535 runs
England
- Average
- 52.68
- Away average
- 48.97
- Average vs strong opposition
- 50.92
- Consistency
- 32.87
- Average in wins
- 61.05
- Volume
- 6,849 runs
Sri Lanka
- Average
- 53.66
- Away average
- 54.81
- Average vs strong opposition
- 46.00
- Consistency
- 37.50
- Average in wins
- 104.25
- Volume
- 1,556 runs
India
- Average
- 47.93
- Away average
- 41.21
- Average vs strong opposition
- 44.80
- Consistency
- 35.71
- Average in wins
- 68.83
- Volume
- 2,588 runs
New Zealand
- Average
- 60.31
- Away average
- 36.19
- Average vs strong opposition
- 44.68
- Consistency
- 32.76
- Average in wins
- 95.32
- Volume
- 3,136 runs
Sri Lanka
- Average
- 45.28
- Away average
- 39.70
- Average vs strong opposition
- 46.59
- Consistency
- 33.85
- Average in wins
- 62.13
- Volume
- 2,581 runs
Zimbabwe
- Average
- 56.95
- Away average
- 41.25
- Average vs strong opposition
- 49.00
- Consistency
- 39.13
- Average in wins
- 57.67
- Volume
- 1,139 runs
New Zealand
- Average
- 47.82
- Away average
- 48.40
- Average vs strong opposition
- 39.36
- Consistency
- 27.27
- Average in wins
- 68.89
- Volume
- 1,865 runs
Australia
- Average
- 46.37
- Away average
- 43.83
- Average vs strong opposition
- 39.54
- Consistency
- 30.11
- Average in wins
- 44.57
- Volume
- 3,756 runs
Sri Lanka
- Average
- 43.87
- Away average
- 49.84
- Average vs strong opposition
- 37.40
- Consistency
- 28.33
- Average in wins
- 59.29
- Volume
- 2,369 runs
- Harry Brook
- 98.2 — led by Average (24.7 of it), then Away average (15.0)
- Joe Root
- 96.9 — led by Average (24.6 of it), then Volume (15.0)
- Kamindu Mendis
- 96.0 — led by Average (24.8 of it), then Average in wins (15.0)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- 94.7 — led by Average (24.5 of it), then Consistency (14.7)
- Kane Williamson
- 94.3 — led by Average (25.0 of it), then Average in wins (14.9)
- Dinesh Chandimal
- 93.5 — led by Average (24.0 of it), then Average vs strong opposition (14.5)
- Sean Williams
- 92.6 — led by Average (24.9 of it), then Consistency (14.9)
- Rachin Ravindra
- 92.4 — led by Average (24.4 of it), then Average in wins (14.5)
- Steven Smith
- 92.1 — led by Average (24.1 of it), then Volume (14.9)
- Angelo Mathews
- 91.9 — led by Average (23.8 of it), then Away average (14.6)
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 250 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.
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.