Stats: Highest batting average recorded after 100 Test matches - Kumar Sangakkara at second spot
Sri Lankan batsman Kumar Sangakkara’s career Test batting average now stands at a colossal 58.94: second highest average achieved by a batsman with 100 or more Test appearances to his name.
Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, 107 Tests into his career, had a splendid average of 59.99, before poor form had an effect on his numbers, which tops the list. The Australian great, however, ended his career with an average of 51.85 from 168 matches.
Sangakkara has been in a rich vein of form since 2012 and is averaging 72.67 per dismissal in 16 matches. The left-hander, during his innings of 221 at Galle against Pakistan in the first of the two-Test match series, overhauled Sir Donald Bradman’s record for the most number of 190+ scores in the longer format of the game. He is now only two short of Bradman’s remarkable feat of 12 Test doubles.
The 36-year-old has a very good chance of adding more than just that record to his name, provided he manages to compile runs at this rate.
Indian legends Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar are placed at 3 and 4 with 58.75 and 58.46 respectively. South African great Jacques Kallis, easily the best all-rounder of his generation, is at no.5.
West Indian batting legends Brian Lara and Viv Richards also find a place each in the the list, recording their best numbers in 2005 and 1988 respectively.
| # | Batsman | Average | Achieved in (th) | Starting date of the Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ricky Ponting (Aus) | 59.99 | 107 | 1 December, 2006 |
| 2 | Kumar Sangakkara (SL) | 58.94 | 127 | 6 August, 2014 |
| 3 | Rahul Dravid (Ind) | 58.75 | 104 |
30 June, 2006 |
|
4 |
Sachin Tendulkar (Ind) | 58.46 | 103 | 30 October, 2002 |
| 5 | Jacques Kallis (SA) | 58.20 | 111 | 16 November, 2007 |
| 6 | Javed Miandad (Pak) | 57.41 | 100 | 1 December, 1989 |
| 7 | Mahela Jayawardene (SL) | 54.67 | 108 | 16 November, 2009 |
| 8 | Brain Lara (WI) | 54.09 | 117 | 3 June, 2005 |
| 9 | Alan Border (Aus) | 53.58 | 112 | 12 January, 1990 |
| 10 | Viv Richards (WI) | 53.09 | 101 | 2 December, 1988 |
*Stat courtesy ironchin17@Reditt
*Stats as on 11 August 2014.