Batting and Bowling Statistics Explained: Average, Strike Rate, Economy

What cricket statistics mean and how to calculate them: batting average, strike rate, bowling average, economy rate, bowling strike rate, centuries and five-wicket hauls.

Batting average is runs per dismissal and strike rate is runs per 100 balls. For bowlers, average is runs per wicket, economy is runs per over and strike rate is balls per wicket.

Batting statistics

Batting average is total runs divided by the number of times the batter was dismissed. Innings in which a batter finished not out add runs but not a dismissal, which is why averages can exceed a typical score.

Strike rate is runs per 100 balls faced. A batter with a strike rate of 150 scores 1.5 runs per ball. Strike rate matters most in T20, where scoring speed is as important as consistency.

A century is a score of 100 or more in an innings. A half-century is 50 to 99. A duck means a score of zero, and a golden duck is out first ball.

Bowling statistics

Bowling average is runs conceded divided by wickets taken; lower is better. Economy rate is runs conceded per over. Bowling strike rate is balls bowled per wicket taken, which shows how often a bowler takes wickets regardless of cost.

A five-wicket haul, often called a five-for, is five or more wickets in an innings. Bowling figures are written wickets for runs, such as 5/32, meaning five wickets for 32 runs.

Reading career records

Career statistics are split by format because the games differ. A Test average and a T20I strike rate answer different questions. WicketOut's player pages show career batting and bowling figures taken from Wikipedia's player infoboxes, with a link to the source for each.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good batting average in Test cricket?

Averages around 40 are widely considered good for a Test batter, and averages near 50 are exceptional. Conditions, era and role matter, so compare players with care.

What is a good economy rate in T20?

Roughly seven to eight runs per over is a common benchmark in T20 cricket, with lower being better, though it varies by league, pitch and era.

What does 5/32 mean?

Five wickets for 32 runs: a bowler took five wickets while conceding 32 runs.