Even though run scoring is not easy for batters in Tests, the bowlers still need to keep things tight against them. Apart from the main aim of taking wickets, the bowlers also try to concede fewer runs with the red ball.
If the bowlers give away a few runs before scalping a wicket, that helps them lower their bowling average. And the lower the bowling average, the better it is for the bowler.
On that note, here we’ll look at the top 10 bowlers with the best bowling average in Tests with a minimum of 100 wickets.
Best Bowling Average in Test Cricket
| Player | Innings | Runs Conceded | Wickets | Bowling Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Lohmann (ENG) | 36 | 1205 | 112 | 10.75 |
| Sydney Barnes (AUS) | 50 | 3106 | 189 | 16.43 |
| Charlie Turner (AUS) | 30 | 1670 | 101 | 16.53 |
| Bobby Peel (ENG) | 35 | 1715 | 101 | 16.98 |
| Johnny Briggs (ENG) | 49 | 2095 | 118 | 17.75 |
| Colin Blythe (ENG) | 37 | 1863 | 100 | 18.63 |
| Jasprit Bumrah (IND) | 99 | 4631 | 234 | 19.79 |
| Johnny Wardle (ENG) | 52 | 2080 | 102 | 20.39 |
| Alan Davidson (AUS) | 82 | 3819 | 186 | 20.53 |
| Malcolm Marshall (WI) | 151 | 7876 | 376 | 20.94 |
(If you don’t know how to calculate the bowling average, then check out our guide here.)
Key Insights on Best Bowling Averages in Test Cricket
Lowest Test Career Bowling Averages
England’s George Lohmann holds the record for the best bowling average in Tests. The former medium pacer played in 18 Tests, picking up 112 wickets at a bowling average of 10.75. This is also the lowest average among the pace bowlers.
Bobby Peel’s bowling average of 16.98 is the best among the spinners. The slow left-arm orthodox bowler scalped 101 wickets in 20 Tests for England.
Venue and Condition-Specific Test Bowling Average Records
Jim Laker took 135 wickets at an average of 18.08 in 55 innings in England. This is the lowest bowling average by a bowler at home in Tests.
England’s Sydney Barnes has the best bowling average in overseas Tests. He claimed 126 wickets at 17.96 in 33 innings in away Tests.
West Indies’ Curtly Ambrose has the lowest bowling average at a single venue in Tests (minimum 50 wickets). He returned 66 wickets at 13.28 in 23 innings at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad.
Series, Opponent and Year-Wise Test Bowling Average Records
England’s Johnny Briggs has recorded the best bowling average in a bilateral Test series (minimum 10 wickets). He averaged 4.8 while taking 21 wickets in four innings on the 1889 South Africa tour.
Sydney Barnes averaged just 9.85 while claiming 83 wickets in 14 innings against South Africa. This is the lowest bowling average by a bowler against an opponent in Tests (minimum 50 wickets).
Pakistan’s Imran Khan has recorded the lowest bowling average in a calendar year in Tests. He took 62 wickets at 13.29 in 17 innings in 1982.
Imran Khan also has the best bowling average as a captain in Tests, having claimed 187 wickets at 20.26 in 71 innings.
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