Don Bradman averaged 201.50 in the 1931–32 Test series

Don Bradman’s 201.50 against South Africa in 1931–32 is the standard men’s Test answer when “season” means a substantial series—commonly one of at least four Tests. It is also recorded as the highest average in a five-Test series.

Australia and South Africa played five Tests. Bradman made 806 runs in five innings and was not out once, so he was dismissed four times:

806 runs ÷ 4 dismissals = 201.50

The archived series averages list five matches, five innings, one not-out, 806 runs and an average of 201.50. ESPNcricinfo’s current series page reports the same aggregate and average, while statistician Rajneesh Gupta’s summary of Bradman’s records identifies 201.50 as the highest average in a five-Test series.

The innings behind 201.50

Test	Bradman’s score
First, Brisbane	226
Second, Sydney	112
Third, Melbourne, first innings	2
Third, Melbourne, second innings	167
Fourth, Adelaide	299 not out
Fifth, Melbourne	Did not bat (absent hurt)
Series total	806 runs, five innings, four dismissals

The four hundreds are listed in the contemporary series archive. The Third Test scorecard supplies the easily missed detail: Bradman made 2 in Australia’s first innings and 167 in its second. In the Fifth Test, he was absent hurt and did not bat.

That last entry does not count as an innings. More importantly, the 299 not out does count as an innings but not as a dismissal. A batting average divides runs by dismissals, not appearances, matches or innings. For the full method, see how to calculate a cricket batting average.

Why the qualification matters

Test cricket has no single worldwide season. An English season is usually labelled with one year, such as 1930, whereas an Australian summer commonly spans two, such as 1931–32. “In a season” might therefore mean:

• one bilateral Test series;
• a home summer;
• a calendar year; or
• all Tests within chosen dates.

Those definitions can give different answers. The minimum sample matters too: a batter who makes one large not-out can have a higher numerical average than Bradman’s without having completed anything resembling a full campaign.

For a reproducible record statement, use:

Highest men’s Test batting average in a series of at least four Tests: Don Bradman, 201.50 for Australia against South Africa in 1931–32.

How 201.50 compares with Bradman’s other great series

Series	Runs	Innings	Not-outs	Average
South Africa in Australia, 1931–32	806	5	1	201.50
India in Australia, 1947–48	715	6	2	178.75
Australia in England, 1930	974	7	0	139.14

ESPNcricinfo records 715 runs at 178.75 against India in 1947–48 and 974 at 139.14 in England in 1930. The 1930 campaign produced more runs, but Bradman was dismissed in all seven innings.

That is the distinction the record captures. Runs measure total production; batting average measures runs per dismissal. Bradman’s 1931–32 figure reached 201.50 because South Africa took his wicket only four times while he scored 806 runs.