Test + ODI verdict list
Greatest Test & ODI Batters of All Time
AB de Villiers rises above Joe Root by a breath. Joe Root keeps the better volume in Test batting, 14,208 runs to 8,765 runs. AB de Villiers's strike rate in ODI batting settles it, 101.42 to 87.61.
South Africa
- Test
- 94.4
- ODI
- 97.3
England
- Test
- 95.3
- ODI
- 93.5
India
- Test
- 91.3
- ODI
- 97.6
India
- Test
- 96.2
- ODI
- 92.4
West Indies
- Test
- 94.8
- ODI
- 93.7
Australia
- Test
- 96.5
- ODI
- 89.2
Sri Lanka
- Test
- 96.7
- ODI
- 88.7
South Africa
- Test
- 92.7
- ODI
- 92.5
New Zealand
- Test
- 94.3
- ODI
- 90.9
Australia
- Test
- 95.6
- ODI
- 88.6
- AB de Villiers
- 94.4 — led by Average (27.0 of it), then Volume (24.5)
- Joe Root
- 95.3 — led by Average (26.9 of it), then Volume (25.0)
- Virat Kohli
- 91.3 — led by Average (26.1 of it), then Volume (24.6)
- Sachin Tendulkar
- 96.2 — led by Average (27.5 of it), then Volume (25.0)
- Viv Richards
- 94.8 — led by Average (26.9 of it), then Volume (24.4)
- Steven Smith
- 96.5 — led by Average (27.7 of it), then Volume (24.8)
- Kumar Sangakkara
- 96.7 — led by Average (27.9 of it), then Volume (24.9)
- Hashim Amla
- 92.7 — led by Average (25.9 of it), then Volume (24.7)
- Kane Williamson
- 94.3 — led by Average (27.5 of it), then Volume (24.7)
- Ricky Ponting
- 95.6 — led by Average (27.2 of it), then Volume (25.0)
- AB de Villiers
- 97.3 — led by Average (19.9 of it), then Strike rate (17.0)
- Joe Root
- 93.5 — led by Average (19.8 of it), then Strike rate (14.4)
- Virat Kohli
- 97.6 — led by Average (20.0 of it), then Strike rate (16.0)
- Sachin Tendulkar
- 92.4 — led by Average (19.2 of it), then Volume (15.0)
- Viv Richards
- 93.7 — led by Average (19.5 of it), then Strike rate (15.2)
- Steven Smith
- 89.2 — led by Average (19.0 of it), then Strike rate (14.3)
- Kumar Sangakkara
- 88.7 — led by Average (18.7 of it), then Volume (15.0)
- Hashim Amla
- 92.5 — led by Average (19.7 of it), then Strike rate (14.8)
- Kane Williamson
- 90.9 — led by Average (19.6 of it), then Volume (14.3)
- Ricky Ponting
- 88.6 — led by Average (18.6 of it), then Volume (14.9)
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.
Compared with 867 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.
ODI eligibility: this curated list includes players representing current ICC full-member teams. All of their recorded opposition still counts.
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.