Batting Average Calculator
Runs per dismissal, with not-outs handled correctly
Enter a batter’s total runs, innings and not-outs. The calculator works out the dismissals and the average. Add balls faced if you also want the strike rate and balls per dismissal.
All runs scored by the batter in the innings you are counting.
Count each innings in which the batter came in to bat.
Innings that ended with the batter still unbeaten, including retired hurt.
Add this to see strike rate and balls per dismissal as well.
The average is rounded to two decimal places. This tool calculates from your entries; it does not fetch live statistics.
Enter the total runs and the number of innings batted.
Enter the not-outs. Leave it at zero if the batter was dismissed every time.
Click Calculate Batting Average. Add balls faced first to see strike rate and balls per dismissal.
Formula: Batting average = total runs ÷ (innings − not-outs)
Example: 162 runs, 6 innings, 2 not-outs = 162 ÷ 4 = 40.50
How a batting average is calculated
The batting average answers one question: how many runs does this batter score for each time they are dismissed? That is why the denominator is dismissals, not innings. A dismissal is an innings that ended with the batter out. Innings that ended with the batter unbeaten, including those where the batter retired hurt, are not-outs and do not add to the denominator.
Batting average = total runs ÷ (innings − not-outs)
Suppose a batter scores 42, 18 not out, 65, 7, 30 not out and 0 in six innings. The runs total 162. With two not-outs there are four dismissals, so the average is 162 ÷ 4 = 40.50. If you divided by the six innings you would get 27.00, which is runs per innings rather than the batting average.
Three worked examples
| Batter | Runs | Innings | Not-outs | Dismissals | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 162 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 40.50 |
| B | 1,200 | 30 | 6 | 24 | 50.00 |
| C | 250 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 25.00 |
Batter B has the highest average. Batter C was dismissed in every innings, so the average and the runs per innings are the same, 25.00. Batter A has the lowest number of innings, so the average is based on a small sample and could change a lot with one more score.
Why not-outs matter
A not-out innings adds runs without adding a dismissal, so it lifts the average. A batter with 150 runs from five dismissals averages 30.00. If they then score 20 and are dismissed, the average falls to 170 ÷ 6 = 28.33. If they score 20 not out, it rises to 170 ÷ 5 = 34.00. The same 20 runs move the average in opposite directions.
This is built into the statistic. It rewards batters who finish innings unbeaten, which is more common for lower-order batters and finishers in limited-overs cricket. Read the not-out column alongside the average, and see the batting average guide for a deeper walk-through.
Using strike rate and balls per dismissal
Average says how much a batter scores before being dismissed. Strike rate says how fast. If you enter balls faced, this tool also divides balls by dismissals to show how long the batter typically lasts. A batter with 600 runs, 20 dismissals and 480 balls has an average of 30.00, a strike rate of 125.00 and 24 balls per dismissal.
Together the three numbers describe style and role. A high average with a modest strike rate suggests an anchor. A lower average with a very high strike rate suggests a hitter who accepts more risk.
What this calculator does not do
It does not fetch live statistics, adjust for opposition, or decide how a competition treats unusual dismissals such as retired out. It also cannot tell you whether a high-scoring period came in easy or difficult conditions. When you combine seasons or formats, add the runs and the dismissals first. Never average two averages. The guide to common calculation mistakes shows why.
Common input mistakes
- Counting innings where the batter did not bat. An innings is only counted when the batter came in to bat. A match in which the batter did not get a turn is not an innings.
- Treating retired hurt as out. It is recorded as not out, so it does not add a dismissal.
- Mixing formats. Test, one-day and T20 averages describe different jobs. Calculate each separately.
- Typing runs per innings as the average. The average divides by dismissals, not innings.
- Leaving not-outs blank by accident. A blank is treated as zero. If the batter had unbeaten innings, enter them or the average will be too low.
Practice questions with answers
Question 1. A batter has 1,500 runs from 40 innings with 10 not-outs. What is the average?
Answer. Dismissals are 30. 1,500 ÷ 30 = 50.00.
Question 2. A batter has 87 runs from 3 innings and was not out every time. What is the average?
Answer. Dismissals are zero, so the average is not defined. The runs per innings is 29.00.
Question 3. A batter averages 40.00 after scoring 800 runs. How many dismissals have there been?
Answer. 800 ÷ 40 = 20 dismissals.
Before changing an unexpected result
Why is the batting average not defined for some batters?
If the batter was never dismissed, the denominator is zero and the average cannot be calculated. Record books usually show a dash.
Does retired hurt count as a dismissal?
No. A batter who retires hurt is recorded as not out. A batter retired out is treated as dismissed, subject to the competition’s rules.
Can not-outs be greater than innings?
No. A not-out is a kind of innings, so the number of not-outs cannot exceed the number of innings.
How do I combine two seasons?
Add the runs and the dismissals from both seasons, then divide. Do not average the two season averages.
Is a higher average always better?
Usually, but it depends on sample size, format and conditions. Read it with strike rate and the number of innings.
How to check this tool
Published by CricketCals. All examples are fictional teaching examples. The calculator works in your browser from the figures you enter and keeps full precision until the final rounding. If a published scorecard differs, check its overs and the competition rules first, then report a correction with the values you entered and the result you expected.
- MCC Laws of Cricket: How runs are credited to a batter and how dismissals are recorded.
- ICC playing conditions: Retirement and substitution rules in international cricket.
Related guides
- Batting average explained: why not-outs change the number
- Read a strike rate alongside the innings
- How to read a cricket scorecard line by line
Calculations run in your browser without an account. Third-party services, including advertising, may use cookies; see the privacy policy.