Bowling Average & Economy Calculator

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

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