Table of Contents
- The Legend Everyone Knows
- The Forgotten One-Innings Wonder
- Why Bradman Is Still the King
- Other Players with a Perfect (or Near-Perfect) Average
- Conclusion: Records, Context, and Cricket Lore
- Sources
Ask any cricket fan who holds the highest batting average in Test history, and you’ll almost certainly get the same answer: Sir Donald Bradman. His legendary 99.94 is etched into sporting folklore as an unbreakable, almost mythical benchmark. But what if we told you that technically, someone else has a higher number? The story of Andy Ganteaume is a captivating tale of talent, timing, and the cruel twists of fate that make cricket history so rich and unpredictable.
The Legend Everyone Knows
Sir Don Bradman’s career is the stuff of legend. In 52 Tests for Australia between 1928 and 1948, he amassed 6,996 runs in 80 innings at an astonishing average of 99.94 . This figure is so far ahead of any other player with a substantial career that it’s often cited as the greatest achievement by any sportsman in any major sport . To put it in perspective, the next best averages among players with over 6,000 runs belong to modern greats like Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, both hovering around the low 60s . Bradman’s record stands as a monument to sustained, unparalleled excellence.
The Forgotten One-Innings Wonder
Enter Andy Ganteaume. Born 105 years ago, this West Indian batsman played just a single Test match for his country—in February 1948 against England at Port-of-Spain, Trinidad . In front of his home crowd, the 26-year-old opener walked out to bat and delivered a masterclass, scoring a magnificent 112 on debut . It was a performance that announced his arrival on the world stage.
But here’s the twist: he was never selected again. For reasons that remain a subject of debate—some cite politics, others point to strong competition in a golden era of West Indies cricket—Ganteaume’s international career ended as abruptly as it began. This solitary innings left him with a final Test batting average of 112.00 , which mathematically surpasses even Bradman’s iconic 99.94 .
Ganteaume’s story is a poignant reminder of cricket’s unpredictability. He went on to have a prolific first-class career, scoring over 8,000 runs, but his Test legacy is forever frozen in that one perfect innings .
Why Bradman Is Still the King
While Ganteaume’s 112 is a fascinating statistical anomaly, it’s universally understood that Bradman’s record remains the true gold standard. Why? Because context matters. Cricket statisticians and purists apply a minimum qualification—usually 20 innings or 20 Tests—to filter out these one-off performances and focus on sustained greatness .
Under this widely accepted criterion, Bradman’s 99.94 is not just the highest; it’s in a league of its own. His average is nearly double that of other all-time greats like Sachin Tendulkar (53.78) or Ricky Ponting (51.85). The sheer volume of his runs and the consistency over two decades solidify his status as the undisputed GOAT of batting .
Other Players with a Perfect (or Near-Perfect) Average
Ganteaume isn’t alone in this curious category. Several other players have posted sky-high averages thanks to a single, unbeaten innings:
- Kurtis Patterson (Australia): Scored 144* in his only Test innings, giving him an average of 144.00 .
- Lawrence Rowe (West Indies): While he had a longer career, his debut was historic: 214 and 100* against New Zealand in 1972, starting his career with an average well over 300.
- Several others: A handful of players with a single, not-out score have a perfect or infinite average, but their impact on the game is minimal .
These cases are interesting footnotes, but they don’t challenge the established hierarchy of batting greatness. They highlight the difference between a moment of brilliance and a career of dominance.
For more on the giants of the game, check out our deep dive into [INTERNAL_LINK:greatest-test-batsmen-of-all-time].
Conclusion: Records, Context, and Cricket Lore
So, who has the highest batting average in Test history? The technical answer is Andy Ganteaume with 112.00. But the meaningful, contextual, and universally respected answer remains Sir Don Bradman with his immortal 99.94. Ganteaume’s story is a beautiful, bittersweet chapter in cricket history—a testament to a fleeting moment of perfection that, while statistically superior, can never overshadow the enduring legacy of a true titan of the sport. Both records, in their own way, enrich the tapestry of the game we love.
Sources
- ESPNcricinfo. “Andrew Ganteaume – Player Profile & Statistical Summary”.
- Various cricket publications. “Andy Ganteaume’s Test batting average of 112.00…”
- Times of India. “Andy Ganteaume Profile – Cricket Player West Indies”.
- ICC. “Don Bradman | Stats, Career, Records”.
- Guinness World Records. “Highest batting average in a Test match career (male)”.
- Britannica. “Don Bradman”.
- CricketArchive. “Who had the largest batting average… in Test cricket?”
- Cricbuzz. “Highest Test batting averages of all time (min. 20 innings)”.
- Wikipedia. “Batting average (cricket)”.