Cricket Batting Average Explained
Batting average is the primary measure of a batter's quality in cricket. This guide explains how it is calculated, what a good average looks like, and its limitations as a statistical measure.
How Batting Average Is Calculated
A batter's average is calculated as: total runs scored divided by total times dismissed. A batter who scores 500 runs and has been dismissed 10 times has an average of 50. Not-out innings are excluded from the denominator — they count in the numerator (runs) but not the denominator (dismissals). This inflates the averages of players who often bat not-out at the end of an innings.
Calculation Example
Player scores: 45, 100*, 60, 0, 85, 33*, 120 Runs total: 443 Dismissals: 5 (two innings marked * are not-out, not counted) Batting average: 443 ÷ 5 = 88.6
What Counts as a Good Average?
- Test cricket: 40+ is considered good, 50+ is excellent, 60+ is elite (only Don Bradman, Steve Smith sustained over 60)
- ODI cricket: 35+ is solid, 45+ is excellent for most positions
- T20 cricket: Average is less meaningful — strike rate matters more than how often a batter is dismissed
Don Bradman's Extraordinary Average
Don Bradman averaged 99.94 in Test cricket — a figure so far above any other batter that it stands as the greatest statistical achievement in any sport. To put it in context: the second-highest average in Test history is around 61 (Adam Voges). Bradman's average was nearly 40 runs per innings higher than the next-best sustained Test average.
Limitations of Batting Average
Batting average doesn't capture context: a 30 saving a match from a collapse is worth more than a comfortable 70 on a flat pitch in a won game. It doesn't reflect strike rate in limited-overs cricket. It doesn't account for pitch or opposition quality. Modern statistical analysis supplements averages with contextual metrics like runs above replacement, win shares, and impact scores.
Frequently asked questions
What does not out mean for batting average?
A not-out innings means the batter was still at the crease when the innings ended — they were not dismissed. Their runs count toward the average numerator, but the innings is not added to the dismissal denominator, which artificially inflates career averages for players who bat at No. 10 or 11.
What is Don Bradman's batting average?
Don Bradman's Test batting average is 99.94 — the highest in cricket history by a vast margin. The next-highest sustained Test average is around 61.
Why is strike rate more important than average in T20?
In T20 cricket, each batter faces a limited number of balls. Scoring at a high rate matters more than longevity. A batter averaging 45 but striking at only 100 is less valuable than one averaging 30 but striking at 160.