Bowling Average & Strike Rate Calculator
Runs per wicket, balls per wicket and runs per over
Enter a bowler’s runs conceded, overs bowled and wickets. The calculator returns the three standard bowling statistics and checks that they agree with each other.
Runs charged to the bowler. Exclude byes and leg-byes.
Scorecard notation: 3.4 means 3 overs and 4 balls.
Wickets credited to the bowler. Run outs are not credited.
Average, strike rate and economy are rounded to two decimal places. Average and strike rate are not defined without a wicket.
Enter the runs charged to the bowler, without byes or leg-byes.
Enter the overs in scorecard notation, such as 4 or 3.4.
Enter the wickets credited to the bowler, then click Calculate Bowling Figures.
Formula: Average = runs ÷ wickets; Strike rate = balls ÷ wickets; Economy = runs × 6 ÷ balls
Example: 28 runs, 4 overs, 2 wickets = average 14.00, strike rate 12.0, economy 7.00
The three numbers and what each one says
A bowling analysis such as 4-0-28-2 holds four numbers: overs, maidens, runs and wickets. From those you can build three statistics.
- Bowling average is runs conceded per wicket. It is the cost of each wicket.
- Bowling strike rate is balls bowled per wicket. It shows how often the bowler takes a wicket.
- Economy rate is runs conceded per six-ball over. It shows how tightly the bowler restricts scoring.
For 28 runs, 4 overs (24 balls) and 2 wickets, the average is 28 ÷ 2 = 14.00, the strike rate is 24 ÷ 2 = 12.0 and the economy is 28 × 6 ÷ 24 = 7.00.
How the three fit together
The three statistics are linked by one equation:
Average = economy × strike rate ÷ 6
Check it with the example: 7.00 × 12 ÷ 6 = 14. The result row labelled "Check" in the calculator performs this test, and a mismatch would indicate a typing slip. The link also shows how a bowler can improve their average, either by taking wickets more often (lower strike rate) or by conceding fewer runs per over (lower economy), or both.
Worked examples
| Bowler | Figures (O-M-R-W) | Balls | Average | Strike rate | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X | 8-1-40-2 | 48 | 20.00 | 24.0 | 5.00 |
| Y | 6-0-48-4 | 36 | 12.00 | 9.0 | 8.00 |
| Z | 10-0-60-2 | 60 | 30.00 | 30.0 | 6.00 |
Bowler Y concedes the most per over but takes wickets so often that each costs only 12 runs. Bowler X is the most economical. Neither number is the whole story, which is why all three are shown together.
Entering the figures correctly
- Runs: use the runs in the bowler’s analysis. Wides and no-ball penalties are charged to the bowler. Byes and leg-byes are not. See the extras guide.
- Overs: type the scorecard figure. 3.4 means 3 overs and 4 balls, which is 22 balls. The calculator converts it for you. See overs to balls.
- Wickets: count only wickets credited to the bowler. A run out belongs to the fielding side, not the bowler.
- Combining spells: add the runs, the balls and the wickets across spells first, then use the totals. Never average separate spell averages.
Limits of the tool
The calculator uses six-ball overs and the figures you supply. It does not fetch live data and it cannot say whether a figure is good, because that depends on the format, pitch and era. A bowler with one wicket has an average equal to the runs conceded, so small samples should be read carefully. For the idea behind each statistic, read the bowling average guide.
Common input mistakes
- Using team runs. Byes and leg-byes are in the team total but not in the bowler’s runs.
- Typing overs as a decimal. 3.4 means 22 balls. If you type 3.67 the tool will reject it because the ball digit must be 0 to 5.
- Counting run outs as wickets. Only wickets credited to the bowler count.
- Averaging spells. Add runs, balls and wickets across spells, then calculate once.
- Reading a one-wicket average as meaningful. A single wicket makes the average equal to the runs conceded, which says little about the bowler.
Practice questions with answers
Question 1. A bowler returns 5-1-30-2. What are the average, strike rate and economy?
Answer. Balls 30. Average 15.00, strike rate 15.0, economy 6.00.
Question 2. A bowler returns 3.2-0-26-1. What are the three figures?
Answer. 3.2 overs is 20 balls. Average 26.00, strike rate 20.0, economy 26 × 6 ÷ 20 = 7.80.
Question 3. A bowler has an average of 22.00 and a strike rate of 33.0. What is the economy?
Answer. From average = economy × strike rate ÷ 6, economy = 22 × 6 ÷ 33 = 4.00.
Before changing an unexpected result
Why is the average not defined for my bowler?
Because there are no wickets. Dividing runs or balls by zero wickets is not possible, so only the economy rate can be calculated.
Are run outs counted in the wickets?
No. Run outs are not credited to the bowler, so they are not part of average or strike rate.
Should I include byes in the runs?
No. Byes and leg-byes are not charged to the bowler. Use the runs in the bowler’s own analysis.
Why does the check row sometimes differ in the last decimal?
The values are rounded for display. The check uses full precision, so small rounding differences can appear in the second decimal place.
What is a maiden?
An over in which no runs are charged to the bowler. Maidens are not needed for these three statistics.
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: Laws 17 to 23 define the over, extras and how runs are charged.
- ICC playing conditions: Bowling limits and event-specific rules.
Related guides
- Bowling average, strike rate and economy
- Check the runs column before judging a bowling spell
- Wides, no-balls, byes and leg-byes
Calculations run in your browser without an account. Third-party services, including advertising, may use cookies; see the privacy policy.