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How to calculate Bowling Average, Strike Rate & Economy Rate in Cricket?

Bowling average, bowling strike-rate & economy rate are the bowling statistics, which are commonly used among the cricket analysts to measure the efficiency of bowlers.

In the modern days, where new forms of cricket formats are evolving from every corner of cricket playing nations, these three bowling statistics stay true to evaluate the bowler’s value to his team.

Now let us look into the calculations on how the Bowling Averages, Strike-Rate & Economy-rate are measured in cricket, one by one.

How to calculate Bowling Average?

Bowling Average is a term to measure how many runs, a bowler gives for every wicket he takes.

So, basically, lower the bowling average, better the bowler bowled.

So here is how bowling average is calculated:

Formula to calculate Bowling Average:

Bowling Average Formula
Bowling Average Formula

If a bowler picks 3 wickets in a match, giving away 30 runs, his bowling average for the match is 10.00.

If a bowler picks 300 wickets in his career, giving away 9000 runs, his bowling average in his career is 30.00.

Real-time Example: Muttiah Muralitharan has picked 800 Test wickets in his Test career giving away 18,180 runs.

And that makes his test bowling average –> 18180/800 –>> 22.73

How to calculate Bowling Strike-Rate?

Firstly, what is bowling strike rate in cricket?

Bowling Strike-rate is a measure to find how frequently a bowler picks a wicket.

That is, how many balls the bowler required to pick the total wickets he has taken?

So, lower the Strike-rate, more frequent the bowler has picked wickets.

Strike-rate is an efficient metric in Test Cricket, as picking wickets is the prime duty of any bowler in Test Cricket.

Formula to calculate Bowling Strike-Rate:

Bowling Strike Rate Formula
Bowling Strike Rate Formula

If a bowler picks 5 Wickets in a match and bowled 60 balls, his bowling strike rate is 12.

Real-time Example: Muttiah Muralitharan picked 800 Wickets in 7339.5 Overs, he bowled in his test career. i.e. 44,039 balls in his Test career.

So his Test Bowling strike-rate –> 44039/800 –>> 55.05

How to calculate Economy Rate in Bowling?

Economy Rate is nothing but an average of runs, a bowler conceded in every over, he bowls.

That is, how economical, a bowler has been in a particular game or in his career.

So, the lesser the Economy rate, the more economical the bowler has been in giving runs.

Formula to calculate Bowling Economy Rate:

Bowling Economy Rate Formula
Bowling Economy Rate Formula

If a bowler conceded 50 runs in his 10 overs, his economy-rate stands at 5.00.

Real-time Example: Muttiah Muralitharan conceded 18,180 runs in the 7339.5 overs he bowled in Test Cricket.

So his Economy Rate stays at –> 18180/7339.5 –>> 2.48.

Hope our guide here helps you find what you came here for!

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