Batting Average in Cricket: What It Is, How It's Calculated, and Why It Matters
A complete explanation of batting average in cricket — the formula, why not-outs affect it, Don Bradman's 99.94, and what a 'good' average looks like in each format.
What Is Batting Average?
Batting average is a statistical measure of a batter's run-scoring productivity across their career or a specific period. It is calculated by dividing the total number of runs scored by the number of times the batter has been dismissed (not by the number of innings played). This distinction — using dismissals rather than innings — is what makes cricket's batting average unique among major sports statistics.
The Formula
Batting Average = Total Runs Scored ÷ Number of Dismissals. Not-out innings are excluded from the dismissals count, which inflates the averages of batters who frequently finish not out — particularly tail-enders in Tests who are often at the wicket when the innings ends without being dismissed. For example, a batter who scores 50 runs in 3 innings with one not-out has an average of 50/2 = 25.00, not 50/3 = 16.67.
Bradman's 99.94 Average Explained
Don Bradman played 80 Test innings across 52 matches and scored 6,996 runs. He was dismissed 70 times (10 not-outs). Average: 6,996 ÷ 70 = 99.94. In his final Test innings at The Oval in 1948, Bradman needed just 4 runs to average exactly 100 for his career — but was bowled for a duck by Eric Hollies, leaving his average at the legendary 99.94.
What Is a Good Batting Average?
- Test cricket: 40+ is considered good. 50+ is elite. Bradman's 99.94 is the untouchable pinnacle.
- ODI cricket: 35+ is solid. 45+ is exceptional given the quicker tempo and different pitch conditions.
- T20I cricket: 30+ is good given the high-risk nature of the format and the typically short innings duration.
Limitations of Batting Average
Batting average doesn't capture strike rate (how quickly runs are scored), consistency (whether high averages come from a few huge scores vs many moderate ones), or the match context. A batter averaging 45 who scores 45 every innings is potentially more valuable than one who averages 45 from alternating 0s and 90s. Modern cricket statistics have added metrics like BPI (Batting Performance Index), impact scores, and comparison to team average to supplement the raw batting average.
Frequently asked questions
What is Don Bradman's batting average?
99.94 — the highest batting average in Test cricket history by an enormous margin. The next highest sustained averages are in the 60s.
Why are not-outs important in batting average?
Not-out innings are excluded from the dismissals count, so a batter who is frequently not out at innings close has a higher average than their raw run count might suggest.
Does batting average matter in T20 cricket?
Less so than in Tests. In T20, strike rate (runs per 100 balls) is often considered more important than batting average, since the format rewards quick scoring over patient accumulation.