Since 1965
Since 1965
After Steve Smith’s score of 144 overnight, he has now scored 6343 Test runs at an average of 62.19. 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 6343 at 62.19 (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)
Of all players who have played at least 100 Test innings, Steve is the only player to average over 60. The next best average is 58.67 by Ken Barrington.
He now averages 90.09 in the first innings when Australia bats first in Tests (38 innings). Of batsmen with at least 15 such innings, only Bradman with 113.66 (22 innings) averages higher. Next after Smith is Bill Ponsford with 82.00 (15 innings).
More remarkably, his average batting on day 1 of Tests (i.e. including when we bat second after dismissing the opposition & taking into account being not out at the end of the day) is now 118.26 (in 43 such innings). Only Bradman with 154.40 in 24 such innings is higher.
He has now scored 6343 runs in 118 innings at 62.19. The only higher average after 118 innings was Garry Sobers with 6378 runs at 62.53 (bearing in mind Bradman only played 80 innings for his 6996 runs at 99.94). The most runs after 118 innings was 6379 at 60.75 by Wally Hammond.
It was his 24th Test century in his 118th innings – only Don Bradman who scored his 24th century in his 66th innings got there in less innings. Next after Steve are Virat Kohli (123 inns), Sachin Tendulkar (125 inns) & Sunil Gavaskar (128 inns).
Most Test centuries per innings:
Don Bradman 29 in 80 inns = century every 2.76 innings
Steve Smith 24 in 118 = 4.92
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 Waugh 10 in 72 = 7.20
Steve Smith 9 in 42 = 4.67
Wally Hammond 9 in 58 = 6.44
David Gower 9 in 69 = 7.67
