Since 1965
Since 1965
After Steve Smith’s score of 142 overnight, he has now scored 6485 Test runs at an average of 62.96. The top five Test batting averages for Test players with a minimum of 2000 runs are:
Don Bradman 6996 at 99.94 (1928-1948)
Steve Smith 6485 at 62.96 (2010-Present)
Graeme Pollock 2256 at 60.97 (1963-1970)
George Headley 2190 at 60.83 (1930-1954)
Herbert Sutcliffe 4555 at 60.73 (1924-1935)
He has scored more runs in 119 innings than any other player and no-one has a higher batting average after 119 innings. The next best average after 119 innings was Garry Sobers with 6430 runs at 62.43 (bearing in mind Bradman only played 80 innings for his 6996 runs at 99.94). The next most runs after 119 innings was 6440 at 61.33 by Wally Hammond.
It was his 25th Test century in his 119th innings – only Don Bradman who scored his 25th century in his 68th innings got there in less innings. Next after Steve are Virat Kohli (127 inns), Sachin Tendulkar (130 inns) & Sunil Gavaskar (138 inns).
Most Test centuries per innings:
Don Bradman 29 in 80 inns = century every 2.76 innings
Steve Smith 25 in 119 = 4.76
Virat Kohli 25 in 131 = 5.24
Younis Khan 34 in 207 = 6.26
Kumar Sangakkara 38 in 233 = 6.13
Matthew Hayden 30 in 184 = 6.13
Most Ashes Test centuries:
Don Bradman 19 in 63 inns = century every 3.31 innings
Jack Hobbs 12 in 71 = 5.91
Steve Smith 10 in 43 = 4.30
Steve Waugh 10 in 72 = 7.20
Wally Hammond 9 in 58 = 6.44
David Gower 9 in 69 = 7.67
Players who have scored six consecutive scores of 75+ in Tests vs one opponent:
Steve Smith vs England (239 – 3rd Test WACA 2017-18, 76 & 102* – 4th Test MCG 2017-18, 83 – 5th Test SCG 2017-18, 144 & 142 – 1st Test 2019)
Players who have scored a century + a half century in a Test the most times:
Jacques Kallis 10 in 166 Tests (6.02%)
Ricky Ponting 10 in 168 Tests (5.95%)
Kumar Sangakkara 9 in 134 Tests (6.71%)
Allan Border 9 in 156 Tests (5.77%)
Steve Smith 9 in 65 Tests (13.84%)
Don Bradman had 13 different sequences of 10 consecutive inns in Ashes Tests in which he scored 1000+ runs – best 1236 at 154.5 (between 4th Test 1936-37 & 2nd Test 1946-47).
Steve Smith’s last 10 Ashes inns: 143, 141*, 40, 6, 239, 76, 102*, 83, 144, 142 = 1116 runs at 139.5 (between 5th Test 2015 & 1st Test 2019).
No-one else from either country has done this. The best for England are David Gower (960 runs at 106.67) and Wally Hammond (913 at 101.44).
