How is cricket bowling average calculated?

Bowling average is runs conceded divided by wickets taken. For example, 90 runs conceded for 3 wickets gives a bowling average of 90 / 3 = 30.00.

What happens if a bowler has taken no wickets?

If wickets taken is zero, the average is mathematically undefined because you cannot divide by zero. This calculator shows "N/A" instead of an error or an incorrect number.

Is a lower or higher bowling average better?

Lower is better. A low bowling average means the bowler concedes fewer runs for each wicket taken, which is the opposite of batting average, where a higher number is better.

What is considered a good bowling average in cricket?

In Test cricket, an average below 25 is considered excellent and below 30 is solid for a frontline bowler. In limited-overs formats, bowling average is usually judged alongside economy rate.

Is bowling average the same as economy rate?

No. Bowling average is runs conceded per wicket taken. Economy rate is runs conceded per over bowled. They measure different things: cost per dismissal versus cost per over.

Cricket Bowling Average Calculator

Enter runs conceded and wickets taken to get a bowler's bowling average.

Bowling Figures

Runs Conceded

Wickets Taken

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Enter runs conceded and wickets taken to see the average

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Summary

Enter runs conceded and wickets taken to get a bowler's bowling average.

How it works

Enter the total runs conceded by the bowler.
Enter the total wickets taken.
Bowling average = runs conceded / wickets taken.
The result rounds to two decimal places, matching how scorecards display it.
If wickets taken is zero, the tool shows the average as undefined instead of dividing by zero.

Use cases

Work out a bowler's average from a match or series scorecard.
Compare two bowlers' cost per wicket in the same innings.
Track a player's career bowling average across formats.
Check a fantasy cricket team's bowling stats before a match.
Verify a stats article or commentary claim about a bowling average.
Estimate a club or school team bowler's average from a handful of spells.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-09-22 · Reviewed by Nham Vu