How to Calculate Bowling Average in Cricket | Records

Bowling average for any bowler is a key metric to judge the wicket-taking capability of the bowler and also how much a bowler gives away runs.

Simply put, the bowling average is the number of runs conceded by the bowler divided by the total number of wickets taken by the bowler.

Bowling Average Formula

Bowling Average = (Total runs conceded / Total wickets taken)

So, for example, if a bowler, say “A” plays 5 matches and gives away 100 runs and takes 4 wickets, then he will have a bowling average of 25.00

If another bowler, say “B” plays 5 matches and also concedes 100 runs but takes 5 wickets, then he will have a bowling average of 20.00.

It goes without saying that a bowler would want to give away as fewer number runs as possible and take as many wickets as possible. Hence, the lower the bowling average of a bowler in terms of numbers, the better the bowling average is.

In the example given above, B (20.00) has a better bowling average than A (25.00)

1. Best Bowling Averages in Test Cricket

(Minimum 50 Test matches played)

Sl. No.	Player	Country	Span	Matches	Total Balls Bowled	Total Runs Given	Total Wickets Taken	Bowling Average
1.	Malcolm Marshall	West Indies	1978 – 1991	81	17584	7876	376	20.94
2.	Joel Garner	West Indies	1977 – 1987	58	13169	5433	259	20.97
3.	Curtly Ambrose	West Indies	1988 – 2000	98	22103	8501	405	20.99
4.	Fred Trueman	England	1952 – 1965	67	15178	6625	307	21.57
5.	Glenn McGrath	Australia	1993 – 2007	124	29248	12186	563	21.64
6.	Allan Donald	South Africa	1992 – 2002	72	15519	7344	330	22.25
7.	Richard Hadlee	New Zealand	1973 – 1990	86	21918	9611	431	22.29
8.	Vernon Philander	South Africa	2011 – 2020	64	11391	5000	224	22.32
9.	Kagiso Rabada	South Africa	2015 – Present	52	9908	5446	243	22.41
10.	Muttiah Muralitharan	Sri Lanka	1992 – 2010	133	44039	18180	800	22.72

This list is mainly dominated by fast bowlers with the big West Indian fast bowler Malcolm Marshall starting the proceedings and the spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan wrapping up the list.

2. Best Bowling Averages in ODI cricket

(Minimum 100 ODI matches played)

Sl. No.	Player	Country	Span	Matches	Total Balls Bowled	Total Runs Given	Total Wickets Taken	Bowling Average
1.	Michael Holding	West Indies	1976 – 1987	102	5473	3034	142	21.36
2.	Richard Hadlee	New Zealand	1973 – 1990	115	6182	3407	158	21.56
3.	Allan Donald	South Africa	1991 – 2003	164	8561	5926	272	21.78
4.	Saqlain Mushtaq	Pakistan	1995 – 2003	167	8770	6275	288	21.78
5.	Glenn McGrath	Australia	1993 – 2007	250	12970	8391	381	22.02
6.	Saeed Ajmal	Pakistan	2008 – 2015	113	6000	4182	184	22.72
7.	Muttiah Muralitharan	Sri Lanka	1993 – 2011	350	18811	12326	534	23.08
8.	Brett Lee	Australia	2000 – 2012	221	11185	8877	380	23.36
9.	Wasim Akram	Pakistan	1984 – 2003	356	18186	11812	502	23.52
10.	Waqar Younis	Pakistan	1989 – 2003	262	12698	9919	416	23.84

The above elite list is again dominated by the fast bowlers with Michael holding on top and Waqar Younis at the 10th rank.

3. Best Bowling Averages in T20I cricket

(Minimum 30 T20I matches played)

Sl. No.	Player	Country	Span	Matches	Total Balls Bowled	Total Runs Given	Total Wickets Taken	Bowling Average
1.	Sandeep Lamichhane	Nepal	2018 – Present	39	146.5	932	73	12.76
2.	Rashid Khan	Afghanistan	2015 – Present	61	231.2	1418	109	13.00
3.	Wanindu Hasaranga	Sri Lanka	2019 – Present	38	132.4	877	62	14.14
4.	Ajantha Mendis	Sri Lanka	2008 – 2014	39	147.3	952	66	14.42
5.	Imran Tahir	South Africa	2013 – 2019	38	150.5	948	63	15.04
6.	Jan Frylinck	Namibia	2019 – Present	35	116	768	51	15.05
7.	Graeme Swann	England	2008 -2012	39	135	859	51	16.84
8.	Mark Adair	Ireland	2019 – Present	41	146.5	1052	62	16.96
9.	Umar Gul	Pakistan	2007 – 2016	60	200.3	1443	85	16.97
10.	Al-Amin Hossain	Bangladesh	2013 – 2020	31	102.2	730	43	16.97

This time, in the shortest format of the game, the spinners have the lion’s share. The list is full of mystery spinners and also some great fast bowlers. It is all the more special to see a bowler from Nepal having the best bowling average in T20 cricket.

Over the years, all the 3 lists may change, but a big credit goes to all the 30 bowlers mentioned in this article for making their mark in the international are with their respective stellar bowling averages.

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