Even though he played just 15 Tests over three series in two years at the age of 38 to 40 after the War, the name Bradman keeps cropping up even when talking about an era that spanned more than two decades after his retirement. He hit up nearly 2000 runs in this time, 1903 to be precise, at an astounding average of 105.72, even higher than in his prime, with 8 hundreds and 5 fifties. But then The Don essentially belongs to the era between the Wars, and in any case he is on a pedestal far higher than any other batsman…..past, present or future.
Gary Sobers
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| Len Hutton |
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| The 3 Ws.....(from left) Frank Worrell, Everton Weekes and Clyde Walcott |
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| Colin Cowdrey |
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| Ken Barrington |
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| Graeme Pollock |
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| Doug Walters |
So then let us confine ourselves to other great batsmen, more human in stature. There were seven batsmen in this period after the Second World War and in the 1950s and 1960s, ending in the banishment of South Africa, for reasons other than cricket. We saw the emergence of more and more brilliant batsmen from the West Indies, and from South Africa, some of whom could not, sadly, see their careers in full bloom. England’s Colin Cowdrey scored the most runs, the only one to top 7000, at 7228, closely followed by compatriot Ken Barrington and the inimitable West Indies allrounder Gary Sobers with 6808 and 6776. Australian left-hander Neil Harvey completed the 6000 runs club. Two English batsmen synonymous with each other, top-class opener Len Hutton and the debonair Denis Compton, along with the exquisite little West Indies strokeplayer Rohan Kanhai aggregated above 5000.
Turning to averages among batsmen who scored 2000 runs and more, the South African left-hander Graeme Pollock was on top at 60.97 for his 2256 runs in 23 Tests. The Australian star batsman Doug Walters was next at 59.21 for his 2250 runs in 25 Tests. They were followed by Gary Sobers and Ken Barrington at 58.92 and 58.67 respectively. Two of the famous Caribbean Ws, Everton Weekes and Clyde Walcott finished at 58.61 and 56.68. Len Hutton completed the list of averages of 50 at 54.62.
In the 45-plus category there are some very illustrious names, Denis Compton, Lindsay Hassett, Frank Worrell, Bobby Simpson, Neil Harvey, Rohan Kanhai, Ted Dexter, Bill Lawry, Vijay Hazare, Seymour Nurse, Bob Cowper, Peter May, Conrad Hunte, Arthur Morris, Colin Cowdrey, John Edrich, Eddie Barlow and Norman O’Neill.
Top Rungetters
(minimum
2000 runs)
Colin Cowdrey (England), Tests 104, Highest Score 182,
Runs 7228, Average 46.33, Hundreds 22, Fifties 37
Ken Barrington (England), Tests 82, Highest Score 256,
Runs 6808, Average 58.67, Hundreds 20, Fifties 35
Gary Sobers (West Indies), Tests 76, Highest Score
365*, Runs 6776, Average 58.92, Hundreds 21, Fifties 26
Neil Harvey (Australia), Tests 79, Highest Score 205,
Runs 6149, Average 48.41, Hundreds 21, Fifties 24
Len Hutton (England), Tests 66, Highest Score 206,
Runs 5626, Average 54.62, Hundreds 14, Fifties 30
Denis Compton (England), Tests 70, Highest Score 278,
Runs 5339, Average 49.89, Hundreds 15, Fifties 26
Rohan Kanhai (West Indies), Tests 61, Highest Score
256, Runs 5056, Average 48.15, Hundreds 12, Fifties 22
Bill Lawry (Australia), Tests 62, Highest Score 210,
Runs 4910, Average 47.66, Hundreds 13, Fifties 24
Tom Graveney (England), Tests 79, Highest Score 258,
Runs 4882, Average 44.38, Hundreds 11, Fifties 20
Peter May (England), Tests 66, Highest Score 285*,
Runs 4537, Average 46.77, Hundreds 13, Fifties 22
Ted Dexter (England), Tests 62, Highest Score 205,
Runs 4502, Average 47.89, Hundreds 9, Fifties 27
Everton Weekes (West Indies), Tests 48, Highest Score
207, Runs 4455, Average 58.61, Hundreds 15, Fifties 19
Bobby Simpson (Australia), Tests 52, Highest Score
311, Runs 4131, Average 48.60, Hundreds 8, Fifties 24
Hanif Mohammad (Pakistan), Tests 55, Highest Score
337, Runs 3915, Average 43.98, Hundreds 12, Fifties 15
Frank Worrell (West Indies), Tests 51, Highest Score
261, Runs 3860, Average 49.48, Hundreds 9, Fifties 22
Clyde Walcott (West Indies), Tests 44, Highest Score
220, Runs 3798, Average 56.68, Hundreds 15, Fifties 14
Polly Umrigar (India), Tests 59, Highest Score 223,
Runs 3631, Average 42.22, Hundreds 12, Fifties 14
Arthur Morris (Australia), Tests 46, Highest Score
206, Runs 3533, Average 46.48, Hundreds 12, Fifties 12
John Reid (New Zealand), Tests 58, Highest Score 142,
Runs 3428, Average 33.28, Hundreds 6, Fifties 22
Conrad Hunte (West Indies), Tests 44, Highest Score
260, Runs 3245, Average 45.06, Hundreds 8, Fifties 13
Vijay Manjrekar (India), Tests 55, Highest Score 189*,
Runs 3208, Average 39.12, Hundreds 7, Fifties 15
Colin McDonald (Australia), Tests 47, Highest Score
170, Runs 3107, Average 39.32, Hundreds 5, Fifties 17
Basil Butcher (West Indies), Tests 44, Highest Score
209*, Runs 3104, Average 43.11, Hundreds 7, Fifties 16
Chandu Borde (India), Tests 55, Highest Score 177*,
Runs 3061, Average 35.59, Hundreds 5, Fifties 18
Keith Miller (Australia), Tests 55, Highest Score 147,
Runs 2958, Average 36.97, Hundreds 7, Fifties 13
Lindsay Hassett (Australia), Tests 39, Highest Score
198*, Runs 2874, Average 49.55, Hundreds 10, Fifties 10
Saeed Ahmed (Pakistan), Tests 38, Highest Score 172,
Runs 2833, Average 41.66, Hundreds 5, Fifties 15
Norman O’Neill (Australia), Tests 42, Highest Score
181, Runs 2779, Average 45.55, Hundreds 6, Fifties 15
Bert Sutcliffe (New Zealand), Tests 42, Highest Score
230*, Runs 2727, Average 40.10, Hundreds 5, Fifties 15
John Edrich (England), Tests 40, Highest Score 310*,
Runs 2711, Average 45.94, Hundreds 8, Fifties 10
Geoff Boycott (England), Tests 41, Highest Score 246*,
Runs 2609, Average 42.77, Hundreds 8, Fifties 10
Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi (India), Tests 39, Highest
Score 203*, Runs 2552, Average 36.98, Hundreds 6, Fifties 14
Cyril Washbrook (England), Tests 36, Highest Score
195, Runs 2552, Average 43.25, Hundreds 6, Fifties 12
Seymour Nurse (West Indies) Tests 29, Highest Score
258, Runs 2523, Average 47.60, Hundreds 6, Fifties 10
Eddie Barlow (South Africa), Tests 30, Highest Score
210, Runs 2516, Average 45.74, Hundreds 6, Fifties 15
Trevor Goddard (South Africa), Tests 41, Highest Score
112, Runs 2516, Average 34.46, Hundreds 1, Fifties 18
Pankaj Roy (India), Tests 43, Highest Score 173, Runs
2442, Average 32.56, Hundreds 5, Fifties 9
Jackie McGlew (South Africa), Tests 34, Highest Score
255*, Runs 2440, Average 42.06, Hundreds 7, Fifties 10
Godfrey Evans (England), Tests 91, Highest Score 104,
Runs 2439, Average 20.49, Hundreds 2, Fifties 8
Johnny Waite (South Africa), Tests 50, Highest Score
134, Runs 2405, Average 30.44, Hundreds 4, Fifties 16
Trevor Bailey (England), Tests 61, Highest Score 134*,
Runs 2290, Average 29.74, Hundreds 1, Fifties 10
Peter Burge (Australia), Tests 42, Highest Score 181,
Runs 2290, Average 38.16, Hundreds 4, Fifties 12
Graeme Pollock (South Africa), Tests 23, Highest Score
274, Runs 2256, Average 60.97, Hundreds 7, Fifties 11
Doug Walters (Australia), Tests 25, Highest Score 242,
Runs 2250, Average 59.21, Hundreds 7, Fifties 14
Richie Benaud (Australia), Tests 63, Highest Score
122, Runs 2201, Average 24.45, Hundreds 3, Fifties 9
Vijay Hazare (India), Tests 30, Highest Score 164*,
Runs 2192, Average 47.65, Hundreds 7, Fifties 9
Graham Dowling (New Zealand), Tests 35, Highest Score
239, Runs 2163, Average 32.28, Hundreds 3, Fifties 10
Ian Redpath (Australia), Tests 37, Highest Score 132,
Runs 2159, Average 37.22, Hundreds 1, Fifties 16
Mike Smith (England), Tests 47, Highest Score 121,
Runs 2138, Average 32.39, Hundreds 3, Fifties 11
Bill Edrich (England), Tests 30, Highest Score 191,
Runs 2133, Average 43.53, Hundreds 5, Fifties 13
Roy McLean (South Africa), Tests 40, Highest Score
142, Runs 2120, Average 30.28, Hundreds 5, Fifties 10
Vinoo Mankad (India), Tests 44, Highest Score 231,
Runs 2109, Average 31.47, Hundreds 5, Fifties 6
Imtiaz Ahmed (Pakistan), Tests 41, Highest Score 209,
Runs 2079, Average 29.28, Hundreds 3, Fifties 11
Bob Cowper (Australia), Tests 27, Highest Score 307,
Runs 2061, Average 46.84, Hundreds 5, Fifties 10
Peter Richardson (England), Tests 34, Highest Score
126, Runs 2061, Average 37.47, Hundreds 5, Fifties 9
Jeff Stollmeyer (West Indies), Tests 29, Highest Score
160, Runs 2066, Average 44.04, Hundreds 4, Fifties 10
ML Jaisimha (India), Tests 36, Highest Score 129, Runs 2013, Average 32.46, Hundreds 3, Fifties 12
Highest Averages
(minimum
2000 runs with average of 50 and above)
Graeme Pollock (South Africa), Tests 23, Highest Score
274, Runs 2256, Average 60.97, Hundreds 7, Fifties 11
Doug Walters (Australia), Tests 25, Highest Score 242,
Runs 2250, Average 59.21, Hundreds 7, Fifties 14
Gary Sobers (West Indies), Tests 76, Highest Score
365*, Runs 6776, Average 58.92, Hundreds 21, Fifties 26
Ken Barrington (England), Tests 82, Highest Score 256,
Runs 6808, Average 58.67, Hundreds 20, Fifties 35
Everton Weekes (West Indies), Tests 48, Highest Score
207, Runs 4455, Average 58.61, Hundreds 15, Fifties 19
Clyde Walcott (West Indies), Tests 44, Highest Score
220, Runs 3798, Average 56.68, Hundreds 15, Fifties 14
Len Hutton (England), Tests 66, Highest Score 206, Runs 5626, Average 54.62, Hundreds 14, Fifties 30
Highest Averages
(less
than 2000 runs but above 1000 runs with average of 50 and above)
Don Bradman (Australia), Tests 15, Highest Score 234,
Runs 1903, Average 105.72, Hundreds 8, Fifties 5
Bruce Mitchell (South Africa), Tests 10, Highest Score
189*, Runs 1072, Average 59.55, Hundreds 3, Fifties 6
Dudley Nourse (South Africa), Tests 20, Highest Score
208, Runs 1863, Average 56.45, Hundreds 6, Fifties 10
Eric Rowan (South Africa), Tests 14, Highest Score 236, Runs 1238, Average 51.58, Hundreds 3, Fifties 7
Highest Averages
(less
than 1000 runs but above 500 runs with average of 50 and above)
Barry Richards (South Africa), Tests 4, Highest Score
140, Runs 508, Average 72.57, Hundreds 2, Fifties 2
Sidney Barnes (Australia), Tests 12, Highest Score
234, Runs 998, Average 66.53, Hundreds 3, Fifties 5
Alan Melville (South Africa), Tests 6, Highest Score 189, Runs 608, Average 55.27, Hundreds 3, Fifties 1
Full Test career figures of some of these top batsmen whose careers
spanned other periods as well:
Don Bradman, span 1928-48, Tests 52, Highest Score
334, Runs 6996, Average 99.94, Hundreds 29, Fifties 13
Sidney Barnes 1938-48, Tests 13, Highest Score 234,
Runs 1072, Average 63.05, Hundreds 3, Fifties 5
Gary Sobers, span 1957-74, Tests 93, Highest Score
365*, Runs 8032, Average 57.78, Hundreds 26, Fifties 30
Len Hutton, span 1937-55, Tests 79, Highest Score 364,
Runs 6971, Average 56.67, Hundreds 19, Fifties 33
Dudley Nourse, span 1935-51, Tests 34, Highest Score
231, Runs 2960, Average 53.81, Hundreds 9, Fifties 14
Alan Melville, span 1938-49, Tests 11, Highest Score
189, Runs 894, Average 52.58, Hundreds 4, Fifties 3
Denis Compton, span 1937-57, Tests 78, Highest Score
278, Runs 5807, Average 50.06, Hundreds 17, Fifties 28
Bruce Mitchell, span 1929-49, Tests 42, Highest Score
189*, Runs 3471, Average 48.88, Hundreds 8, Fifties 21
Doug Walters, span 1965-81, Tests 74, Highest Score
250, Runs 5357, Average 48.26, Hundreds 15, Fifties 33
Geoff Boycott, span 1964-82, Tests 108, Highest Score
246*, Runs 8114, Average 47.72, Hundreds 22, Fifties 42
Rohan Kanhai, span 1957-74, Tests 79, Highest Score
256, Runs 6227, Average 47.53, Hundreds 15, Fifties 28
Bill Lawry, span 1961-71, Tests 67, Highest Score 210,
Runs 5234, Average 47.15, Hundreds 13, Fifties 27
Bobby Simpson, span 1957-78, Tests 62, Highest Score
311, Runs 4869, Average 46.81, Hundreds 10, Fifties 27
Colin Cowdrey, span 1954-75, Tests 114, Highest Score
182, Runs 7624, Average 44.06, Hundreds 22, Fifties 38
Eric Rowan, span 1935-51, Tests 26, Highest Score 236,
Runs 1965, Average 43.66, Hundreds 3, Fifties 12
John Edrich, span 1963-76, Tests 77, Highest Score
310*, Runs 5138, Average 43.54, Hundreds 12, Fifties 24
Ian Redpath, span 1964-76, Tests 66, Highest Score
171, Runs 4737, Average 43.45, Hundreds 8, Fifties 31
Saeed Ahmed, span 1958-72, Tests 41, Highest Score
172, Runs 2991, Average 40.41, Hundreds 5, Fifties 16
Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, span 1961-75, Tests 46, Highest Score 203*, Runs 2793, Average 34.91, Hundreds 6, Fifties 16
ML Jaisimha, span 1959-71, Tests 39, Highest Score 129, Runs 2056, Average 30.68, Hundreds 3, Fifties 12
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