How this calculator works
Bowling average divides the runs a bowler concedes by the wickets they take. It is the number of runs the fielding side pays for each wicket, so a lower figure is better. Byes and leg byes are not charged to the bowler and are excluded, while wides and no-balls are included in the runs conceded. A bowler who takes wickets cheaply has a low average, but the average says nothing about how quickly runs are scored, which is the bowler's economy rate. A strike rate for bowlers, measured in balls per wicket, is the third part of the picture.
Formula
Bowling average = runs conceded / wickets taken. Rearranged: runs conceded = average x wickets; wickets = runs conceded / average.
Worked example
A bowler concedes 432 runs and takes 24 wickets, so the average is 432 / 24 = 18.00. Another concedes 120 for 5 wickets, giving 120 / 5 = 24.00. To concede 400 runs at an average of 20, a bowler would need 20 wickets.
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Frequently asked questions
Are byes charged to the bowler?
No. Byes and leg byes are the responsibility of the wicketkeeper or the fielding side as a whole. Wides and no-balls are charged to the bowler and count in the runs conceded.
What is the difference between average and economy?
Average is runs per wicket and economy is runs per over. A bowler can have a good average and a poor economy, taking wickets between expensive spells, or the reverse.
What is a good bowling average?
In Test cricket an average below 30 is strong and below 25 is excellent. One-day and T20 averages tend to be higher because wickets are attacked, so compare within the format.