Top 5 Test batsmen with highest ICC rating points of all time

The International Cricket Council evaluates performances of cricketers over a period of time and subsequently ranks them through a points-based system, which is worked out by using an algorithm.

The ICC Player Rankings help in determining the performance of a player in a more systematic manner than just comparing his averages with his peers.

The ranking system was first proposed to cricket's highest governing body by former England skipper Ted Dexter in 1987.

Dexter's formula was replaced with a system designed and introduced by English actuary, scorer and cricket statistician David Kendix as the rankings system was officially adopted by the ICC in 2003.

The greats of the game were later ranked on the basis of the past performances and an all-time list was procured in the process.

Now, let us have a look at the top 5 Test batsmen, who made the elite list by sustaining excellent form over a prolonged period of time.

#5 Peter May (941)

England cricketer Peter May achieved his highest career rating points of 941 on the basis of his performance in the year 1956 when he led his team to a 2-1 win against Australia to retain the Ashes at home.

The former skipper, who was posthumously inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2009, top-scored in the five-match series with 453 runs.

Interestingly, with 351 runs in five Test matches, the Surrey cricketer was also the highest scorer when England defeated Australia Down Under to win the Ashes 1954/55 by a margin of 3-1.

#4 Sir Jack Hobbs, Ricky Ponting (942)

Sir Jack Hobbs of England and Ricky Ponting of Australia share the fourth spot as they both achieved their career-best rating points of 942.

Hobbs earned 942 points on the basis of his back-to-back tons in Australia as England won the 1911/12 Ashes by winning the five-match Test series 4-1.

On the other hand, former Australia skipper recorded the peak of his Test career when he led the hosts to a 5-0 win in the 2006/07 Ashes.

Ponting top-scored with 576 runs and won the Player of the Series award as Australia completed the first whitewash of Ashes history since 1920/21.

#3 Sir Leonard Hutton (945)

England retained the 1954/55 Ashes by winning the five-match series 3-1 under the leadership of Sir Leonard Hutton in Australia.

Hutton, who was averaging 56.67 in the Tests at that time, recorded his career-best rating points of 945 on the basis of his performance in the year 1954.

Interestingly, the 1954-55 Ashes series consisted of five Test matches, each of six days with five hours play every day and eight-ball overs.

#2 Steven Smith (947)

2017 turned out to be a golden year for Australian skipper Steven Smith as he amassed 1305 runs in 11 Tests at an average of 76.76.

The number one batsman in the latest ICC Test Rankings, by a mile, also led his team to reclaim the iconic Ashes urn by beating England comprehensively by a margin of 4-0.

Riding on his Test exploits, the 28-year-old edged closer to Sir Donald Bradman as Smith recorded his career-best rating points of 947, just 14 points shy of the highest-ever rating achieved by Bradman back in 1948.

#1 Sir Donald Bradman (961)

There is no surprise that Sir Donald Bradman, the world's greatest Test batsman, occupies the top spot on this iconic list.

Led by Lala Amarnath, India toured Australia in 1947/48 and the visitors were handed a 4-0 defeat in the five-match Test series.

Bradman amassed 715 runs in five Tests and completely outplayed the touring party.

On the basis of that series, Bradman still sits at the top of the ICC’s Test player rankings system.

Interestingly, in 1949, Bradman became the first Australian cricketer to receive a knighthood.