Top 10 Best Test Batsmen in the World 2025 - Updated

Cricket is one of the most followed sports in the world, which is played in three different formats: Test, One Day Internationals (ODIs), and T20 Internationals (T20Is). ODI and T20I are played in limited overs with the white ball, while Test is played with the red ball, and the match could run for five days with a maximum of 90 overs a day divided into three sessions. Test is the oldest format of the game, and it is also said to be the original format. Almost every cricketer in the world dreams of playing in whites for their respective countries. However, only a few of them get a chance because the format requires extraordinary talent and skills with a great level of self-confidence and commitment.

It’s also hard for a batter to play in the Test format as the bowlers have less pressure of leaking runs in this format, which helps them to bowl with freedom. However, there have been many batters in the format who have etched their name in the history of the game. Best Test batsman like Sir Don Bradman, Sir Viv Richards, Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Ricky Ponting, Alastair Cook, and many others have graced the format with their magnificent performances. Batters have a lot of challenges to face in the Test format, from adapting to different conditions to handling the pressure of the fans’ expectations. It has also been tough for a batter to stand out and produce some great performances.

How We Ranked The Best Test Batsman in the World - Rankings Factor

The ranking has been done on the following factors, so that all the worlds best Test batsmen are ranked fairly.

• Batting Average (Recent & Career): Apart from scoring runs, it’s also important for a batter to have an impressive batting average, which shows how consistently a batter has scored runs. It’s one of the most important factors for a batter to be ranked as the best Test batsman in the world.
• Runs Scored Against Top Teams: To rank the best Test batsman, it’s important to see how many runs a batter has scored. Batters with the most Test runs will rank higher in the list. Scoring runs in the Test format is always a tough job, whether the batter is playing in home conditions or overseas conditions. Playing against quality pacers and spinners, hitting boundaries and scoring runs against them makes a batter great.
• Performance in Away Matches: The performance in away matches is what matters a lot, and how well they adapt to foreign conditions (e.g., seaming England, spinning India, bouncy Australia) is a crucial factor to rank the worlds best test batsmen.
• Fourth Innings Record: The fourth innings record of a batsman determines his temperament under pressure, chasing targets, and saving games. It becomes a significant factor in ranking the worlds best test batsmen.
• Hundreds & Big Hundreds (100+ & 150+ Scores): Reflects ability to convert starts and build match-defining innings. Such big hundreds usually set the tone for the match and are a crucial factor in ranking the worlds best test batsmen.
• Impact per Innings (Clutch Index): Assesses how crucial their innings were to team outcomes (win/save/loss situations). This helps us to determine how impactful a batsman has been in clutch situations and to rank the top 10 test batsman.
• Strike Rate in Tests (Contextual): Useful to differentiate modern players who can shift momentum without being reckless, and sometimes an attacking intent is also needed in Test match cricket to put some pressure on the opposition, and these modern-day batters are capable of doing that, which helps us to rank the top 10 test batsman.
• Longevity & Series-to-Series Consistency: The Number of years at the top level and the ability to perform in every major series or tour is what makes a player special in the longest and toughest format of the game.
• Conditions Versatility Index: How well they play on different pitch types: green tops, dry turners, slow roads, fast bouncers, is what shows the versatility of the batsman and is very crucial while ranking the top 10 best batsman.
• Technique Under Pressure: A qualitative but crucial metric, based on analysis of how their technique holds up against swing, spin, or short-ball barrages.

Top 10 Worlds Best Test Batsmen 2025 - Updated List

The list of the top 10 test batsman consists of some of the stalwarts of modern-day test cricket, including Joe Root, Steve Smith, and Kane Williamson. These batsmen have been scoring consistent runs for a while and are among the top 10 world best batsman.

Who is the Best Test Batsman in the World?

The best batsman in Test cricket among the active players has shown terrific skills and talent over the years. It’s their years of hard work and training which has helped them to become one of the greatest players to grace the longest format of the game. But it’s not just about talent and skills; these players have also shown immense consistency to remain at the top of the list for years.

Whether it’s about saving the team after a horrible collapse or building a big partnership with other batters, Joe Root have done it all and is still doing it to achieve multiple individual milestones and is the best test batsman in the world.

10. Yashasvi Jaiswal | India

The young opening batter of the Indian team, Yashasvi Jaiswal, has played some magnificent knocks in Test cricket in recent years. His natural aggressive intent has helped him score big against some mighty opponents at a very young age. In a short career of 19 Test matches, Jaiswal has scored 1798 runs so far at an impressive average of 52.88, which includes 10 half-centuries and four centuries. He has also smashed two double centuries. He is currently in the fourth spot in the ICC Test rankings with 847 ratings.

9. Temba Bavuma | South Africa

South African cricket team captain in the Test and the ODI format, Temba Bavuma, is one of the most underrated batters and the best Test batsman in the world right now. Bavuma has not only displayed some great individual performances, but he has also taken the Proteas to new heights with his brilliant leadership skills and led the Proteas to their ICC WTC title, beating the mighty Aussies. Bavuma has remained consistent with his bat in the Test format. He has played 64 matches in the longest format as of now and has scored 3708 runs at an average of 37.95 with 25 half-centuries and four centuries. He is currently the sixth-ranked batter in the ICC Test rankings with 769 ratings.

8. Rishabh Pant | India

India’s star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been the most consistent and best Test batsman for the Men in Blue in the past few years. No one can forget his Gabba heroics against Australia, which created history. Pant’s unique style of play makes him one of the most entertaining yet effective players in Test cricket. He has played 43 Test matches so far in his career and has scored 2948 runs at an average of 42.11. The left-handed batter has 13 half-centuries and 7 centuries to his name. Pant is in ninth place in the ICC Test rankings along with Usman Khawaja and Saud Shakeel, as they all have 739 ratings.

7. Harry Brook | England

England’s young middle-order batter, Harry Brook, has achieved multiple milestones in Test cricket in just a short period. The star right-handed batter has already smashed eight centuries in just 24 matches. He has scored 2281 runs so far at an average of 58.48. Brook is just 26 years of age and has a lot of cricket still left to play, which means he will achieve many more milestones in the future. He is currently the number two-ranked batter in the ICC Test rankings with 876 points.

6. Usman Khawaja | Australia

Australia’s star opener in Test cricket, Usman Khawaja, has remained consistent in the longest format of the game for a very long time. His consistency is the reason why he is still one of Australia’s most responsible opening batters. He has seen many players leaving the squad who have played with him as his opening partner, but he has kept one end safe with his magnificent performances. Khawaja has played 80 matches so far in Test cricket and has scored 5936 runs at an average of 45.00, including 27 half-centuries and 16 centuries. He is currently the number nine-ranked batter in the ICC Test rankings with 739 points.

5. Travis Head | Australia

Another Australian batter, Travis Head, has proved himself in all formats of the game. Head has always performed well when it was required the most. No one can forget his magnificent century against Australia in the WTC 2023 finals. The explosive left-handed batter has always shown great intent in the longest format as well, which has helped him score runs against the mighty opponents. Head has played 57 Test matches so far in his career and has scored 3739 runs at an average of 42.00, including 18 half-centuries and nine centuries. He is currently the eighth-ranked batter in the ICC Test rankings with 748 points.

4. Marnus Labuschagne | Australia

Ever since Marnus Labuschagne came as a concussion substitute of Steve Smith during the 2019-20 Ashes series, he hasn’t looked back and scored in almost every series he has taken part in. The right-handed batter is known for his unique style of play, which has helped him score runs against some of the top teams in the world. Labuschagne has played 57 Test matches so far in his career and has scored 4435 runs at an average of 46.2, which includes 23 half-centuries and 11 centuries. However, his recent dip in form has taken him out of the top 10 Test batters list of the ICC rankings.

3. Kane Williamson | New Zealand

Former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson is one of the greatest Test batters in the current generation. From leading the team to achieving multiple individual milestones, Williamson has shown a great level of hard work over the years. The right-handed batter was also a part of the iconic ‘Fab 4’ along with Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, and Joe Root. The right-handed batter has played 105 Test matches so far in his career and has scored 9276 runs at an impressive average of 54.88, featuring 37 half-centuries and 33 centuries. Most of the time, he has remained in the top 10 rankings of the ICC Test batters, which shows how consistent he is. He is still the third-ranked batter in the current rankings.

2. Steve Smith | Australia

Former Australian skipper Steve Smith is undoubtedly the best Test batsman of all time ever to grace the game. The right-handed batter has given tough competition to batters like Kohli, Root, Williamson, and others over the years. Smith was banned for one year from international cricket, but his magnificent performances in Test cricket helped him to remain in the top 5 batters list. Smith has played 117 Test matches in his career so far and scored 10350 runs at an outstanding average of 56.74. He has also smashed 42 half-centuries and 36 centuries so far and is also one of the only two active batters to hit 10000 runs in Test cricket. He is currently the number five-ranked batter in the ICC Test rankings.

1. Joe Root | England

Now comes the best batsman in Test cricket in the current generation, Joe Root, who has left behind all his competitors by scoring a plethora of runs in the longest format of the game. Playing in different conditions never affected Root’s style of play. Whether it’s playing in the overcast conditions, facing extra bounce from the pacers, to playing in spin-friendly asian pitches, Root has proved his talent everywhere. The right-handed batter has played 153 Test matches so far in his career and has scored 13006 runs at an average of 50.87, including 65 half-centuries and 36 centuries. He is currently the number one-ranked batter in the ICC Test rankings with 895 points.

Who is The Best Batsman in Test of All Time?

Sachin Tendulkar is fondly known as the "God of Cricket" and is widely regarded as the greatest Test batsman of all time. Over a legendary career that lasted 24 years, he scored a record 15,921 runs and 51 Test centuries. But beyond the statistics, it was his calm presence and ability to perform under pressure that set him apart. He faced the world’s best bowlers in every corner of the globe and consistently delivered. For millions of fans, Tendulkar was more than just a player; he was the hope of fans every time he stepped onto the field.