Bowling Average in Cricket: Measuring a Bowler's Wicket Cost

A bowling average is calculated by dividing the total number of runs conceded by the total number of wickets taken. It represents the average cost in runs for each wicket. A lower bowling average is better — it means the bowler takes wickets cheaply. In Test cricket, a bowling average below 25 is considered elite; below 20 is genuinely exceptional.

Calculating the Bowling Average

Bowling average = total runs conceded ÷ total wickets taken. For example, a bowler who has conceded 3,000 runs and taken 150 wickets has an average of 20.00. Extras conceded by the bowler — wides and no-balls — count toward their runs but not toward the wicket count. Byes and leg byes are not charged to the bowler and do not appear in the bowling figures.

Bowling Average vs Economy Rate

The bowling average and economy rate measure different things. The average measures wicket cost; the economy rate measures runs conceded per over. A bowler can have an excellent average but a poor economy rate if they take wickets expensively in terms of overs bowled. In Test cricket, the average is the primary quality indicator. In limited-overs cricket, both are important — a bowler who concedes 8 runs per over but takes wickets every three overs may not be useful in a T20 context.

Interpreting Bowling Average by Format

In Tests, averages below 30 are very good for regular bowlers; below 25 is elite. In ODIs, averages below 30 are competitive; bowlers with high strike rates can be useful with higher averages. T20 bowling averages are the least reliable single metric — a bowler who concedes runs but takes wickets at a lower average than their peers in a T20 context still deserves evaluation on wicket impact, match situation, and power play vs death bowling performance.