Test verdict list
Greatest Test Batters of All Time
Donald Bradman rises above Kumar Sangakkara by a breath. Kumar Sangakkara keeps the better volume in Test batting, 12,400 runs to 6,996 runs. Donald Bradman's average in Test batting settles it, 99.94 to 57.41.
Australia
- Average
- 99.94
- Away average
- 102.85
- Average vs strong opposition
- 89.79
- Consistency
- 52.50
- Average in wins
- 130.08
- Volume
- 6,996 runs
- Longevity
- 19.7 yrs · 52 matches
Sri Lanka
- Average
- 57.41
- Away average
- 53.13
- Average vs strong opposition
- 47.71
- Consistency
- 38.63
- Average in wins
- 71.70
- Volume
- 12,400 runs
- Longevity
- 15.1 yrs · 134 matches
Australia
- Average
- 56.00
- Away average
- 54.83
- Average vs strong opposition
- 55.36
- Consistency
- 36.77
- Average in wins
- 63.84
- Volume
- 10,920 runs
- Longevity
- 16.1 yrs · 125 matches
South Africa
- Average
- 55.37
- Away average
- 53.81
- Average vs strong opposition
- 46.98
- Consistency
- 36.79
- Average in wins
- 62.54
- Volume
- 13,289 runs
- Longevity
- 18.0 yrs · 166 matches
India
- Average
- 53.79
- Away average
- 54.75
- Average vs strong opposition
- 46.79
- Consistency
- 36.17
- Average in wins
- 61.94
- Volume
- 15,921 runs
- Longevity
- 24.0 yrs · 200 matches
West Indies
- Average
- 57.78
- Away average
- 51.09
- Average vs strong opposition
- 53.68
- Consistency
- 35.00
- Average in wins
- 77.42
- Volume
- 8,032 runs
- Longevity
- 20.0 yrs · 93 matches
Australia
- Average
- 51.85
- Away average
- 45.81
- Average vs strong opposition
- 50.28
- Consistency
- 35.89
- Average in wins
- 59.46
- Volume
- 13,378 runs
- Longevity
- 17.0 yrs · 168 matches
West Indies
- Average
- 52.89
- Away average
- 47.80
- Average vs strong opposition
- 50.71
- Consistency
- 35.34
- Average in wins
- 61.02
- Volume
- 11,953 runs
- Longevity
- 16.0 yrs · 131 matches
England
- Average
- 58.46
- Away average
- 66.33
- Average vs strong opposition
- 51.85
- Consistency
- 32.86
- Average in wins
- 69.84
- Volume
- 7,249 runs
- Longevity
- 19.2 yrs · 85 matches
West Indies
- Average
- 51.37
- Away average
- 46.11
- Average vs strong opposition
- 50.60
- Consistency
- 34.29
- Average in wins
- 65.67
- Volume
- 11,867 runs
- Longevity
- 21.1 yrs · 164 matches
- Donald Bradman
- 97.6 — led by Average (30.0 of it), then Volume (23.8)
- Kumar Sangakkara
- 96.7 — led by Average (27.9 of it), then Volume (24.9)
- Steven Smith
- 96.5 — led by Average (27.7 of it), then Volume (24.8)
- Jacques Kallis
- 96.4 — led by Average (27.7 of it), then Volume (24.9)
- Sachin Tendulkar
- 96.2 — led by Average (27.5 of it), then Volume (25.0)
- Garry Sobers
- 96.0 — led by Average (27.9 of it), then Volume (24.3)
- Ricky Ponting
- 95.6 — led by Average (27.2 of it), then Volume (25.0)
- Brian Lara
- 95.6 — led by Average (27.4 of it), then Volume (24.9)
- Wally Hammond
- 95.5 — led by Average (28.0 of it), then Volume (24.0)
- Shivnarine Chanderpaul
- 95.4 — led by Average (27.1 of it), then Volume (24.8)
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 1,218 batters who played at least 20 innings.
Longevity: uses the square root of career span in years multiplied by matches selected. Match counts and first/last dates come from playing-XI appearances, so a did-not-bat or did-not-bowl match still counts.
Contribution: total runs or wickets measure output within the selected period.
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.