Don Bradman's Average: Why 99.94 Is the Greatest Sporting Record
Don Bradman's Test batting average of 99.94 is statistically the greatest achievement in any team sport. It stands 13 runs above the next-best career average in history and has held for over 75 years.
Don Bradman's Test batting average of 99.94 is the most discussed number in cricket — and arguably in all team sports. From 1928 to 1948, Bradman scored 6,996 runs in 80 Test innings with 10 not outs, averaging 99.94 per dismissal. The next-best career average by any batter with 20+ Tests is around 60. The gap between Bradman and every other cricketer is proportionally greater than the gap between any other record holder and their nearest rival.
The Mathematics of 99.94
Bradman needed just 4 runs in his final Test innings — at The Oval in 1948 — to average 100. He was bowled second ball by Eric Hollies for a duck. The crowd's reception as he walked to the wicket, and his emotional state, are often cited as contributors to his uncharacteristic dismissal. Had he scored 4, the number would be exactly 100 — a round figure that would perhaps be even more discussed.
The Last Innings: Bradman Bowled for 0
Bradman walked to the wicket at The Oval on 14 August 1948 to a standing ovation from both the Ashes crowd and the English fielders. He acknowledged the applause, took guard, and faced Eric Hollies of Warwickshire. The second delivery was a googly — or a wrong-un, accounts differ — that Bradman played around. The stumps were hit. He turned and walked back, having scored his final Test run four innings earlier. His average, had he scored 4, would have been 100.00.
Statistical Context
| Batter | Innings | Runs | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Don Bradman (Aus) | 80 | 6,996 | 99.94 |
| Graeme Pollock (SA) | 41 | 2,256 | 60.97 |
| George Headley (WI) | 40 | 2,190 | 60.83 |
| Herbert Sutcliffe (Eng) | 84 | 4,555 | 60.73 |
| Steve Smith (Aus) | 194+ | 10,000+ | ~58.5+ |
| Virat Kohli (Ind) | 200+ | 9,000+ | ~47+ |
Why the Gap Is So Large
Bradman's gap over his contemporaries was not narrow — he averaged 40% more than the next best in his own era. Multiple explanations have been proposed: exceptional eye-ball coordination, a distinctive grip, unusual footwork, the ability to hit the ball harder to almost any part of the ground, and a mental discipline that enabled him to score large every time he batted without fatigue or complacency taking effect.
Modern Comparisons
Steve Smith, widely regarded as the world's best Test batter of the 2010s-2020s, has a career average around 58-62. Virat Kohli peaked in the mid-50s. Alastair Cook averaged 45.35 across 161 Tests. No modern batter has come close to Bradman's 99.94 — the gap has only widened as Test cricket has become more competitive and pitches more neutral.
Frequently asked questions
What is Don Bradman's batting average?
Bradman's Test batting average is 99.94, from 80 innings (70 completed) with 6,996 runs. He played from 1928 to 1948.
Why didn't Bradman average 100?
Bradman needed 4 runs in his final innings at The Oval in 1948 to average exactly 100. He was bowled second ball by Eric Hollies for 0. Had he scored 4, his average would have been exactly 100.00.
Who has the second-highest Test batting average?
Graeme Pollock (South Africa) has a career Test average of 60.97 from 41 innings — the second-highest behind Bradman's 99.94. Pollock was limited by South Africa's apartheid-era sporting isolation.