Voges not just an average cricketer

If cricket was just a numbers game, Adam Voges will go down as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of the game, across all three formats.

But while the right-hander will always be remembered for his incredible Test batting average, his long-time mentor Justin Langer says the esteem with which he's held amongst his teammates is what sets him apart.

A legend of Western Australian cricket, Voges announced his retirement from the state game today having also conceded earlier in the summer that his international career was over.

Quick Single: Voges retires from state cricket

The highly-respected and well-liked stalwart of the domestic game, Voges will bow out with more than 10,000 runs to his name for Western Australia over a 15-year-career, but also with an incredible set of numbers at the highest level.

Much has been made of Voges' Test average of 61.87, the second-highest of any player to have played 20 or more Tests, behind only the great Sir Donald Bradman.

But his batting averages in both one-day and T20 international cricket also put him in the upper echelon of all players to have played at the highest level.

Voges had a brief and sporadic career in Australia's star-studded ODI side, playing just 31 of 178 matches from his debut in 2007 until his last game in 2013.

But he made the most of his limited opportunities, posting four fifties and a highest score of 112no to finish with an average of 45.78.

Image Id: B1C87483E0E8420484EB6F6E5BD81376 Image Caption: Voges acknowledges his ODI ton against the West Indies in 2013 // Getty

Of players to have played at least 30 games, that average places Voges in 15th spot on the all-time list and third among Australians, behind only white-ball legends Michael Bevan and Mike Hussey.

Appearances in Australia's T20 side were even rarer for Voges, despite being one of the best performers at domestic level, and he played just seven matches for his country in the shortest format of the game across a five-year period.

But scores of 51, 26, 26, 25no and 11no in five innings means he finished with an average of 46.33, the ninth-highest of all time (for those to have played more than five matches) and the third-highest among Australians, behind Matthew Hayden and Andrew Symonds.

The mild-mannered Voges has always been a touch embarrassed by comparisons to some of the greats of the game - the light-hearted and irreverent take of Voges' Test teammates to his batting average earned him the moniker 'The Don' - but he rightly remains proud of what he's been able to achieve.

"To finish with the numbers I did is certainly really satisfying," he said today.

"It's something I'll be able to sit back in the years to come and reflect on. It was a lot of fun.

"I'm incredibly proud of the contribution I've been able to make.

"There were some great times and some tough times as well."

Langer, Voges' former state captain and current coach at the Warriors and Perth Scorchers, was full of praise for a man he's shared a dressing-room with since the beginning of this century.

And he says his ex-teammate's relationship with his players is almost unrivalled during his time in the game.

"He's really tough, physically and mentally, and they're good traits for elite cricket," Langer said.

"But he's also very honest and that's a very important value, not just as a person buy also in our organisation.

"And he also - the only other person I know who can do this is Adam Gilchrist - can be one of the boys but also a really strong leader. Not many people can do that.

"Not only do the players love him, but they respect him hugely."

Highest Test batting averages (all players, minimum 20 matches)

Donald Bradman (AUS) - 99.94

Adam Voges (AUS) - 61.87

Graeme Pollock (SA) - 60.97

George Headley (WI) - 60.83

Herbert Sutcliffe (ENG) - 60.73

Highest ODI batting averages (Australian, minimum 30 matches)

Michael Bevan - 53.58

Mike Hussey - 48.15

Adam Voges - 45.78

David Warner - 44.84

Dean Jones - 44.61

Highest T20I batting averages (Australian, minimum five matches)

Matthew Hayden - 51.33

Andrew Symonds - 48.14

Adam Voges - 46.33

Aaron Finch - 38.64

Mike Hussey - 37.94