Top 10 Greatest Batsmen in Cricket History

Cricket is one of the most renowned sports in the world. Universally considered as the ‘batsmen’s game’, cricket has enchanted and awed its fans with a variety of magnificent strokes and footwork over the ages. Batsmen seem more likely to seal the deal with their batting skills, it gives the impression of being in favor of the batsmen.

For some batsmen, cricket was an art and they filled this art with the color of their matchless strokes, drives, runs, and power-hitting. Despite having such advantages there are only a few batsmen who got the limelight with their batting skills and found themselves as one of the greatest batsmen in cricket history. 

Top 10 Greatest Batsmen in Cricket History

10. Javed Miandad – Pakistan

Quick Facts
Age in 2022	64
Test (124)	Runs: 8832 100s: 23 Avg: 52.57 HS: 280*
ODI (271)	Runs: 7381 100s: 8 Avg: 41.7 HS: 119
T20	None
Status	Retired
Country	Pakistan

Javed Miandad is the best batsman Pakistan has ever produced, and his contemporary Ian Chappell lauded him as one of the greatest batsmen in cricket history.

He is known for his unorthodox batting and captaincy approach. Javed Miandad is also renowned for his historic finish when Miandad thudded the last ball of the match bowled by Chetan for a six to take his country to amazing success.

With 8 ODIs centuries and 23 test centuries, Javed Miandad found the 10th spot in the list of our top 10 Greatest Batsmen in Cricket History.

09. Greg Chappell – Australia

Quick Facts
Age in 2022	73
Test (87)	Runs: 7110 100s: 24 Avg: 53.86 HS: 247*
ODI (74)	Runs: 2331 100s: 3 Avg: 40.2 HS: 138*
T20	None
Status	Retired
Country	Australia

Being absent for two years from international cricket may have kept him from being called Australia’s best batsman after Bradman, yet Greg Chappell with amazement dropping records actually makes it to our rundown of the Top 10 Greatest Batsmen in Cricket History Ever, channeling Ricky Ponting. 

Playing against bowlers like Michael Holding, Colin Croft, and Joel Collect, Chappell stayed a threatening contender, making way for a forceful variety of Australian players who might proceed to rule world cricket.

08. Rahul Dravid – India

Quick Facts
Age in 2022	49
Test (164)	Runs: 13288 100s: 36 Avg: 52.3 HS: 270
ODI (344)	Runs: 10889 100s: 12 Avg: 39.2 HS: 153
T20	None
Status	Retired
Country	India

Rahul Dravid is also known as “The Wall” for his unmatchable batting skills and with 36 Test centuries and 12 ODI centuries he found 8th place in the list of our Top 10 Greatest Batsmen in Cricket History.

He had an outstanding ability of defense and he taught the world how to hold your horses while batting. He played so many important innings which helped team India to find triumphant.

07. Brian Lara – West Indies

Quick Facts
Age in 2021	52
Test (131)	Runs: 11953 100s: 34 Avg: 52.9 HS: 400*
ODI (299)	Runs: 10405 100s: 19 Avg: 40.5 HS: 169
T20	None
Status	Retired
Country	West Indies

The most fascinating Caribbean character from West Indies, Brian Lara with his fearless batting techniques sits in 7th place in our Top 10 Greatest Batsmen in Cricket History.

Brian Lara owns a record of the highest individual test score of 400* and the first-class score of 501* which is still unbeaten. The classical left-handed batsman deserves to be on the list of Top 10 Greatest Batsmen in Cricket History.

06. Ricky Ponting – Australia

Quick Facts
Age in 2022	47
Test (168)	Runs: 13378 100s: 41 Avg: 51.9 HS: 257
ODI (375)	Runs: 13704 100s: 30 Avg: 42 HS: 164
T20 (17)	Runs: 401 HS: 98*
Status	Retired
Country	Australia

One of the most successful Aussie skippers Ricky Ponting has also registered himself as the most successful captain in cricket history. During his captaincy, Australia ruled the cricket world for a very long time. He played many match-winning knocks for his team.

One of the highest run achievers of his time, with his 41 test and 30 ODI’s centuries, he is at the 6th spot of our Top 10 Greatest Batsmen in Cricket History.

05. Sir Viv Richards – West Indies

Quick Facts
Age in 2022	70
Test (121)	Runs: 8540 100s: 24 Avg: 50.2 HS: 291
ODI (187)	Runs: 6721 100s: 11 Avg: 47.0 HS: 189*
T20	None
Status	Retired
Country	West Indies

Sir Viv Richards is also entitled as the greatest batsman of one-day international matches of all time. He has been honored with the five best West Indian cricketers of the century. The legendary Caribbean batsmen brought a new term “swagger” in cricket history.

With 24 Test tons and 11 tons in ODI along with an average of 50.2 and 47 respectively he also scored 45 test and 45 ODI fifties. The legendary West Indian Batsmen fills the 5th spot in our Top 10 Greatest Batsmen in Cricket History.

04. Jaque Kallis – South Africa

Quick Facts
Age in 2022	46
Test (166)	Runs: 13289 100s: 45 Avg: 55.4 HS: 224
ODI (328)	Runs: 11579 100s: 17 Avg: 45.0 HS: 139
T20 (25)	Runs: 666 HS: 73
Status	Retired
Country	South Africa

One of the greatest batsmen in cricket history, the proteas legend Jaque Kallis is also regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders the cricket world has ever witnessed. He is the only cricketer who scored more than 11 thousand runs and pocketed 250+ wickets in both ODI and test cricket.

With an average of almost 56 in tests and 45 in ODI, Jaque Kallis claims 4th place in our Top 10 Greatest Batsmen in Cricket History.

03. Sir Garfield Sobers – West Indies

Quick Facts
Age in 2022	85
Test (93)	Runs: 8032 100s: 26 Avg: 57.8 HS: 365*
ODI (1)	None
T20	None
Status	Retired
Country	West Indies

3rd West Indian in the list right? But the stat shows that Sir Garfield Sobers was the best all-rounder in cricket history ever. He is the first cricketer to smash 6 sixes on 6 balls in an over. He is one of the five best cricketers of “Wisden cricketers of the century”.

Hard-hitting batsman with his incomparable batting skills, possessing an average of 57.8 in test cricket with the highest score of unbeaten 365, Sir Garfield Sobers grabs the 3rd spot in our Top 10 Greatest Batsmen in Cricket History.

02. Sachin Tendulkar – India

Quick Facts
Age in 2022	48
Test (300)	Runs: 15921 100s: 51 Avg: 53.8 HS: 248*
ODI (463)	Runs: 18426 100s: 49 Avg: 44.8 HS: 200*
T20	None
Status	Retired
Country	India

Without any question or surprise, the master blaster, the King of the cricket arena, Sachin Tendulkar pockets the second spot in the list of greatest batsmen. Undoubtedly, Sachin is one of the best batsmen in modern ODI. Sachin has dominated the cricket world in both tests and ODIs for a very long time.

He owns the record for most Man of the Match awards and he is the only batsman who scored 100 centuries in total until now. With 51 test centuries and 49 ODIs centuries along with an average of  53.8 and 44.8 respectively, he is truly worthy of second place in our Top 10 Greatest Batsmen in Cricket History.

01. Sir Don Bradman – Australia

Quick Facts
Age	Died in 2001
Test (52)	Runs: 6996 100s: 29 Avg: 99.94 HS: 334
ODI	None
T20	None
Status	Retired
Country	Pakistan

Sir Don Bradman is considered the greatest batsman of all time in cricket history. He was a run machine, to get him out was an honor for the bowlers. Bradman has a remunerative career with an amazing and unbelievable average of 99.94 which seems impossible to be broken.

He made 29 test tons in just 80 innings. He could have made his average of 100 if he could score only 4 runs in his last match but unfortunately, he found the duck. Bradman’s astonishing average of 99.94 is still one of the seven wonders of cricket history.

Due to his heroic and gallant batting techniques, he rules the first place of our Top 10 Greatest Batsmen in Cricket History.

Summary

The list of greatest batsmen in cricket history includes:

1. Sir Don Bradman – Australia
2. Sachin Tendulkar – India
3. Sir Garfield Sobers – West Indies
4. Jaque Kallis – South Africa
5. Sir Viv Richards – West Indies
6. Ricky Ponting – Australia
7. Brian Lara – West Indies
8. Rahul Dravid – India
9. Greg Chappell – Australia
10. Javed Miandad – Pakistan