Highest batting average in first-class cricket

Batting in Test cricket is undoubtedly the toughest. As compared to the white-ball formats, there are no field restrictions, and the attacking field set by the bowling team can play with the mind of batters. Similarly, the red cherry swings a lot more as compared to the white ball. Despite such difficulties. several batters have stamped their authority in the longest format of the game and went on to amass thousands of runs.  On that note, let us take a look at the top three highest batting averages in first-class cricket.

Vijay Merchant (71.64)

Indian legend Vijay Merchant can be named as one of the best batters to have represented India at the highest level. Talking about his numbers in First-Class cricket, the right-handed batter played a total of 150 matches and amassed a total of 13,470 runs at an excellent average of 71.64. He also stroked a total of 45 centuries and 52 fifties in the format. Merchant also represented India in ten Test matches and scored a total of 859 runs. He also stroked three fifties and three hundred at the highest level.

Sarfaraz Khan (80.42)

The middle-order batter Sarfaraz Khan is currently in red-hot form. The right-handed batter recently smashed a hundred in the ongoing 2022 Ranji Trophy quarter-final match against Uttarakhand. As a result, he is now averaging 80.42 in the First-Class format. Sarfaraz is currently the leading run-scorer of Ranji Trophy 2022 after smashing 704 runs from just five innings at a superlative average of 140.80.

Don Bradman (95.14)

Arguably the greatest batter of all time, Sir Don Bradman dominated the game of cricket till he hung up his shoes. Not only in international cricket, but the batter also dominated the First-Class arena as he scored a total of 28,067 runs in First-class cricket at an average of 95.15, with his top score being 452 not out. As a result, he finds himself at the top of this list by some margin.