20 batsmen whose Test average never dipped below 40: Part 1

(12) Herbert Sutcliffe (England): 1924-1935

Herbert Sutcliffe is the only batsman in test history to have never averaged below 60 in his test career.

Matches: 54, Runs: 4555, Average: 60.73, Highest: 194, 100/50: 16/23.

Lowest Career Average: 60.73 (54th Test)

One of the greatest opening batsmen of all time, Herbert Sutcliffe made his test debut aged 30, in 1924. Sutcliffe scored 64 in his debut innings against South Africa in Edgbaston.

Sutcliffe scored a century in the next test and finished the series with 303 runs to his name. Sutcliffe made his first tour to Australia in 1924/25, and while England struggled, Sutcliffe thrived.

He scored 734 runs in the five test series, including 4 hundreds and 2 half-centuries. England lost the series 4-1, but Sutcliffe cemented his position as one of the leading batsmen in world cricket. He scored 472 runs in the 1926 Ashes as England won the Urn back. It was on this tour that Sutcliffe earned a reputation of being a bad wicket specialist.

When the going got tough, the Yorkshire man stepped up. He enhanced his reputation on the 1928 tour to Australia. Sutcliffe scored 303 runs at an average of 50, his knock of 135 at Melbourne is regarded as one of the greatest innings of all time.

Sutcliffe's test career came to an end after he failed to regain his fitness in the 1935 series against South Africa. Sutcliffe played for Yorkshire but never played for England again.

He formed one of the greatest partnerships with Jack Hobbs, the duo added 3249 runs at an incredulous average of 87. Sutcliffe found great success playing in Australia, he scored 1529 runs in 14 tests at an average of 63 including six hundreds.

Herbert Sutcliffe did not have a very attractive playing style, but he knew how to grind and make the ugly runs. Sutcliffe described himself as a batsman who loved a dog-fight, and his numbers sure tell that.

He played 54 tests in his career and scored 4555 runs at an average of 60.73. It included 16 hundreds and 23 half-centuries, but surprisingly, no double hundred. His highest score was 194 which he made against Australia at Sydney in 1932.

Sutcliffe is the only batsman, other than Bradman to have an average in excess of 50 in all four innings of a test match.

Sutcliffe retired with a test average of 60.73, which is mighty impressive by itself. That it was his lowest career average after he made his test debut at the age of 30 is a testimony to his great skill and perseverance.