CricPulse
Bowling Average & Economy Calculator
Calculate bowling average, economy rate, and strike rate from match or career bowling figures — with format-specific ratings.
Enter Bowling Figures
Use decimal for partial overs (e.g. 10.3 = 10 overs, 3 balls)
Scoring a Match? Let the App Keep Count
CricPulse scores ball by ball and keeps run rates and player stats up to date as you go. Free on iOS and Android.
Understanding Bowling Statistics in Cricket
Bowling performance is measured by three key metrics: bowling average, economy rate, and bowling strike rate. Together, they paint a complete picture of a bowler’s effectiveness.
Bowling Average
Bowling Average = Runs Conceded ÷ Wickets Taken
A lower bowling average is better. It tells you how many runs a bowler concedes for each wicket they take. The best Test bowlers have averages below 25. In T20 cricket, anything under 20 is exceptional.
Economy Rate
Economy Rate = Runs Conceded ÷ Overs Bowled
Economy rate measures how expensive a bowler is — how many runs they concede per over. In T20 cricket, an economy under 7 is excellent. In Tests, under 3 is outstanding. Economy rate matters most in limited-overs cricket where containing runs is crucial.
Bowling Strike Rate
Bowling Strike Rate = Balls Bowled ÷ Wickets Taken
Strike rate measures how frequently a bowler takes wickets. A lower number is better — it means fewer balls are needed per wicket. Strike bowlers (like Waqar Younis, Brett Lee) had low strike rates; containing bowlers may have higher strike rates but better economy.
Bowling Benchmarks by Format
| Metric | Test (Elite) | ODI (Elite) | T20 (Elite) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Average | Under 25 | Under 25 | Under 18 |
| Economy Rate | Under 2.5 | Under 4.5 | Under 7.0 |
| Strike Rate | Under 50 | Under 30 | Under 16 |
All-Time Bowling Records
- Best Test bowling average (min 200 wickets): Malcolm Marshall — 20.94
- Best ODI economy (min 100 wickets): Joel Garner — 3.09
- Best T20I economy (min 50 wickets): Rashid Khan — 6.14
- Most Test wickets: Muttiah Muralitharan — 800
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you calculate bowling average? +
Divide total runs conceded by wickets taken. A bowler who has conceded 500 runs for 20 wickets has a bowling average of 25.00 — lower is better, since it means fewer runs conceded per wicket.
What's the difference between bowling average and economy rate? +
Bowling average measures runs conceded per wicket taken; economy rate measures runs conceded per over, regardless of wickets. A bowler can have a low economy but a weak average if they rarely take wickets, or vice versa if they're expensive but strike often.
What is a good bowling average in T20 cricket? +
Under 18 is elite and under 24 is very good at the top level — the bar is notably tighter than in ODIs or Tests because far fewer overs are bowled per innings.
How is bowling strike rate different from bowling average? +
Bowling strike rate is balls bowled per wicket, while bowling average is runs conceded per wicket. A bowler can have an excellent strike rate (taking wickets frequently) but a mediocre average if they're expensive when they do take wickets.
What happens if a bowler has taken no wickets? +
Bowling average and strike rate are undefined with zero wickets, since both formulas divide by wickets taken — the calculator falls back to economy rate only in that case, since it's the one metric that doesn't depend on taking a wicket.
Score Your Next Match with the App
Ball-by-ball scoring, live stats, offline support, and instant sharing. Free to download on iOS and Android.