Cricket Batting Average: What It Is, How to Calculate It, and Why It Matters
Batting average is cricket's most important individual statistic — it measures how many runs a batsman scores per dismissal. This guide explains how batting average is calculated, what a good average looks like, and why Don Bradman's 99.94 is so extraordinary.
Cricket's batting average is elegantly simple: total runs scored divided by times dismissed. A batsman who scores 5,000 runs across 100 dismissals has a batting average of 50.00. The average strips away the number of innings and concentrates purely on production per dismissal. It has been cricket's primary batting metric since the 19th century — and while modern analytics offer additional context, the batting average remains the first number any cricket fan looks at.
The Formula
Batting Average = Total Runs Scored ÷ Number of Times Dismissed. Crucially, 'not out' innings are excluded from the denominator — a batsman who scores 50 not out is given credit for the 50 runs but is not penalised with a dismissal. This means a batsman who often bats at the end of innings (tail-end) can have an inflated average from accumulated not-outs — but for top-order batsmen, not-outs are relatively rare and the average reflects genuine quality.
What Is a 'Good' Batting Average?
In Test cricket, an average above 50 is considered excellent for a top-order batsman. Averages in the 40s are good; averages in the 30s are average for a specialist batsman but acceptable for an all-rounder or lower order. In ODI cricket, averages above 45 are outstanding — the format's nature (pressure to score quickly) results in slightly lower averages than Test cricket for equivalent quality players. In T20 cricket, averages are less meaningful because not-outs are common and innings are shorter.
Limitations of Batting Average
Batting average doesn't capture strike rate, pitch conditions, opposition bowling strength, or match context. A batsman who grinds out 30 off 150 balls to save a Test match contributes more than a batsman who scores 30 off 150 balls in a comfortable winning position — but both show the same 30 added to their average. Modern analytics supplement batting average with metrics like batting impact, runs above average, and performance in win situations.
Frequently asked questions
What is Don Bradman's batting average?
Don Bradman's Test batting average is 99.94 — the highest in cricket history. He played 80 Test innings, scored 6,996 runs, and was dismissed 70 times. He needed just 4 runs in his final innings to average 100, but was bowled second ball for 0.
What is a good batting average in Test cricket?
A batting average above 50 in Tests is considered excellent for a specialist top-order batsman. Between 40-50 is very good; below 35 for a top-order batsman would typically put their place under scrutiny.
How is batting average calculated?
Batting Average = Total Runs ÷ Times Dismissed. Not-out innings count toward total runs but are excluded from the dismissals total. A batsman scoring 3,000 runs in 90 innings with 15 not-outs has an average of 3,000 ÷ 75 = 40.00.