Top five batsmen with the highest average in International cricket 

#3 Steve Smith (49.56)

Steve Smith's story truly panders to the romantics of this beautiful game

Career Stats (Inclusive of all three formats)

Matches: 202 Innings: 236 Runs: 10061 Avg: 49.56 50s/100s: 45/31 200s: 2 Not Out: 33

He may have been suspended for a period of 12 months, but Steve Smith's story truly panders to the romantics of this beautiful game.

Smith made his international debut for Australia against Pakistan in 2010 as a leg-spinner who could bat a bit, amid scepticism on his credentials by fans and pundits alike.

After having copped a plethora of criticism on his selection or his pedigree as a Test match player, Smith was axed from all formats of the game after Australia lost the coveted urn at home to the English in the summer of 2010-11.

However, it was the same opposition three years later that saw the resurgence of Smith. His unorthodox technique along with an exaggerated trigger movement coupled with a constant shuffle paved the way for Smith's redemption as his crucial hundred at Melbourne Cricket Ground as the Aussies to clinched the Ashes in 2013-14.

If 2013-14 were an indication of Smith's resurgence, the following season would establish his credentials as the best Test batter. Smith scored over 700 runs against India at home in 2014-15 empowering him to reach the zenith of Test rankings.

Nevertheless, his finest hour in Test cricket arrived last year when he scored a tenacious hundred in the second innings at Pune on a dust-bowl masquerading as the first Test pitch to help Australia win their Test in India since Nagpur, 2004.

The former Aussie skipper has thus far featured in 202 matches for Australia across formats and has accumulated 10,061 runs at an average of 50.55.