Best Economy Rates in Test Cricket
| Player | Innings | Economy Rate | Balls Bowled | Runs Conceded | Wickets | Average | Strike Rate | 5W/10W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Attewell (ENG) | 18 | 1.31 | 2850 | 626 | 28 | 22.35 | 101.7 | 0/0 |
| Cliff Gladwin (ENG) | 15 | 1.6 | 2129 | 571 | 15 | 38.06 | 141.9 | 0/0 |
| Trevor Goddard (SA) | 75 | 1.64 | 11736 | 3226 | 123 | 26.22 | 95.4 | 5/0 |
| Bapu Nadkarni (IND) | 65 | 1.67 | 9165 | 2559 | 88 | 29.07 | 104.1 | 4/1 |
| Herbert Ironmonger (AUS) | 27 | 1.69 | 4695 | 1330 | 74 | 17.97 | 63.4 | 4/2 |
| John Watkins (SA) | 27 | 1.74 | 2805 | 816 | 29 | 28.13 | 96.7 | 0/0 |
| Ken Mackay (AUS) | 53 | 1.78 | 5792 | 1721 | 50 | 34.42 | 115.8 | 2/0 |
| Anton Murray (SA) | 16 | 1.79 | 2374 | 710 | 18 | 39.44 | 131.8 | 0/0 |
| Gerry Gomez (WI) | 46 | 1.82 | 5236 | 1590 | 58 | 27.41 | 90.2 | 1/0 |
| Roy Kilner (ENG) | 12 | 1.85 | 2368 | 734 | 24 | 30.58 | 98.6 | 0/0 |
Key Insights on Bowling Economy and Efficiency Records in Test Cricket
Lowest Overall Economy and Bowling Averages
England’s William Attewell has the lowest economy rate in Test cricket, conceding 1.31 runs per over while taking 28 wickets in 18 innings (minimum 2000 balls bowled).
This is also the lowest economy against a Test team, with all of Attewell’s numbers coming against Australia.
Attewell, meanwhile, has the lowest economy rate in overseas Tests. He conceded 1.28 runs per over while taking 23 wickets in 16 innings outside England.
England’s George Lohmann has the lowest bowling strike rate in Tests, having taken a wicket after every 34.1 balls. He ended up with 112 wickets in 36 innings.
Lohmann also has the lowest bowling average in Tests, having conceded 10.75 runs per wicket.
Most Economical Spells and Venue Records
India’s Bapu Nadkarni has the best economy rate in a Test innings (minimum 60 balls bowled). He conceded a mere five runs in his 32-over wicketless spell to have an economy rate of 0.15 against England in the 1964 Chennai Test.
South Africa’s Trevor Goddard bowled 10 spells with an economy rate of one or below, the most by a bowler in Tests. Nadkarni follows him with nine such innings.
Attewell also holds the record for the most economical bowling in a Test series (minimum 1,000 balls bowled) with a rate of 1.11 runs per over during The Ashes series in 1891/92.
South Africa’s Huge Tayfield has the best economy rate at a single venue in Tests. He took 30 wickets in eight innings at an economy of 1.40 at Kingsmead in Durban.
Goddard had an economy rate of 1.58 while picking up 63 wickets in 41 innings in South Africa, the lowest by a bowler at home in Tests.
Nadkarni has recorded the best economy rate in a calendar year in Tests, going at 1.50 while taking 26 wickets in 13 innings in 1964.
Highest Economy Rate Records
New Zealand’s Neil Wagner (8.46 vs ENG, 2023), Bangladesh’s Shahadat (8.41 vs ENG, 2005), Australia’s Bryce McGain (8.27 vs SA, 2009), and South Africa’s Allan Donald (8.00 vs ENG, 1994) are the others with an economy rate of eight or more in a Test innings.
Bangladesh’s Shahadat Hossain has the most expensive economy rate in Tests, going at 4.16 runs per over while picking up 72 wickets in 60 innings. He is the lone bowler with a four-plus economy among those who’ve bowled 2000 balls in Tests.
Pakistan’s Yasir Shah has recorded the highest economy rate in a Test innings. He claimed a wicket for 124 runs in 14 overs at an economy of 8.85 against Australia in the 2017 Sydney Test.
Deep Dive: Most Expensive Bowling Figures in a Test Match
