Calculate a cricket bowler's bowling average by entering Runs Conceded and Wickets Taken. You'll get the bowler's average instantly, plus context on whether it's considered excellent, good, or high. A lower bowling average means a more effective bowler — see exactly where your performance stands.
Bowling Average
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Performance Rating
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Runs per Wicket Context
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The bowling average is a statistical measure of a bowler's effectiveness. It represents the number of runs conceded per wicket taken. A lower bowling average indicates a more effective bowler, as they are taking wickets while conceding fewer runs.
The formula is simple: Bowling Average = Runs Conceded ÷ Wickets Taken. For example, if a bowler has conceded 300 runs and taken 15 wickets, their bowling average is 300 ÷ 15 = 20.00.
In Test cricket, an average below 20 is considered exceptional, between 20–30 is very good, 30–35 is good, and above 40 is generally considered high (less effective). The all-time great bowlers like George Lohmann and Sydney Barnes had averages below 18.
The bowling average is one of the most widely used statistics to evaluate a bowler's career or series performance. It provides a quick snapshot of how costly a bowler is per wicket, helping selectors, analysts, and fans compare bowlers across eras and formats.
Yes — if a bowler has taken zero wickets, the bowling average is undefined because division by zero is not possible. This calculator will alert you if wickets taken is zero, as no average can be calculated in that case.
The formula is the same across Test, ODI, and T20 formats, but the typical values differ. Test averages tend to be lower because bowlers have more time to take wickets. In T20, averages are often higher due to batsmen scoring more aggressively in fewer overs.
Bowling average is often used alongside economy rate (runs per over), strike rate (balls per wicket), and bowling figures (wickets per innings). Together these paint a fuller picture of a bowler's effectiveness in terms of both wicket-taking and run restriction.
George Lohmann holds the best bowling average in Test cricket history at approximately 10.75. Among more modern bowlers, names like Dale Steyn (22.95) and Glenn McGrath (21.64) are considered among the greatest, with averages well below 25.