Cricket Guides · 5 min read · English
Bowling economy rate measures how many runs a bowler concedes per over. Bowling average measures how many runs they concede per wicket credited to them. Bowling strike rate measures how many balls they bowl per wicket. The three figures describe different parts of a spell, so read them together rather than treating one as a complete verdict.
A bowler may restrict runs but take few wickets, or take wickets while conceding more. Wides and No-ball penalties count against the bowler; Byes and Leg-byes do not.
On This Page
- Bowling Economy: Runs Per Over
- Bowling Average: Runs Per Wicket
- Bowling Strike Rate: Balls Per Wicket
- Worked Comparison
- Which Runs Are Charged to a Bowler?
- Put the Figures in Match Context
- Where Fours & Sixes Fits
- Questions Players Ask
- Related Guides
- Further Reading
Bowling Economy: Runs Per Over
Economy rate = runs conceded by the bowler ÷ overs bowled
For an exact calculation, use legal balls divided by six as the overs value. For example, 42 runs from 7 overs gives an economy rate of 6.00 runs per over. The decimal in an over notation is not a decimal fraction of six: 7.3 overs means seven overs and three legal balls, not 7.3 multiplied by six.
Economy describes scoring control; it does not show how many wickets the bowler took.
Bowling Average: Runs Per Wicket
Bowling average = runs conceded by the bowler ÷ wickets credited to the bowler
If a bowler concedes 42 runs and takes 2 wickets, their bowling average is 21.00. It is not team runs divided by all dismissals: run-outs and other dismissals not credited to a bowler do not count.
If the bowler has taken no wickets, the average is undefined for that sample. Do not report it as zero. The same division-by-zero issue applies to bowling strike rate when there are no wickets.
Bowling Strike Rate: Balls Per Wicket
Bowling strike rate = legal balls bowled ÷ wickets credited to the bowler
If a bowler delivers 48 legal balls and takes 2 credited wickets, their strike rate is 24 balls per wicket. A lower strike rate means wickets arrived more frequently in that sample. If there are no credited wickets, there is no finite strike-rate value to calculate.
Worked Comparison
The figures below are invented examples to demonstrate the calculations, not records from Fours & Sixes or a claim about typical performance.
| Bowler | Runs conceded | Legal balls | Wickets credited | Economy | Average | Strike rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 42 | 42 (7 overs) | 2 | 6.00 | 21.00 | 21.0 |
| B | 30 | 36 (6 overs) | 0 | 5.00 | Undefined | Undefined |
B conceded fewer runs per over, so had the lower economy in this spell. A took two wickets. The columns answer different questions; B took no credited wicket in this sample.
For another comparison, a bowler who concedes 24 runs in 6 overs and takes 3 wickets has an economy of 4.00, an average of 8.00, and a strike rate of 12 balls per wicket. The same spell can be described three ways without any one statistic replacing the others.
Which Runs Are Charged to a Bowler?
Under the current MCC Laws, 2017 Code, 4th Edition (2026), Law 18.10.3, a bowler is debited with runs scored by the striker, No-ball extras and Wide extras. A Bye or Leg-bye is an extra for the batting side, but is not charged to the bowler.
That means a No-ball penalty can raise the bowler’s runs conceded even if no batter scores from the delivery. A Wide also adds a penalty run and any additional runs from that Wide are charged to the bowler. Byes and Leg-byes increase the team total without increasing the bowler’s conceded runs. For the scoring distinctions, see How to Score Wides, No-Balls, Byes and Leg-Byes.
Figures depend on accurate delivery and dismissal records. Check extras and wicket details before drawing a conclusion.
Put the Figures in Match Context
An economy of 6.00 might be restrictive in one match and expensive in another. Consider the format, pitch, target, innings stage and available sample. A short spell can change sharply after one boundary or wicket. Compare like with like where possible and state the number of overs or balls behind the figure.
Phase, opposition and bowling-type splits depend on recorded match data. A missing detail means a split may be unavailable, not zero; read sample counts alongside the chart.
Where Fours & Sixes Fits
Fours & Sixes derives bowling figures from recorded deliveries and credited wickets. Its Analysis feature offers deeper career and innings views with Pro, including bowling phases and matchup analysis. Those views depend on completed matches linked to the player and the relevant recorded details.
Questions Players Ask
Can a Bowler Have a Good Economy and a High Bowling Average?
Yes. Economy measures runs per over; average measures runs per wicket. A bowler can concede few runs but take few wickets, leaving the average high or undefined if no wicket is credited.
Do Byes Count Against a Bowler?
No. Byes and Leg-byes are extras for the batting team and are not debited to the bowler. No-ball and Wide extras are charged to the bowler under the Laws.
What Does 7.3 Overs Mean?
It means seven completed overs plus three legal balls. Since an over has six valid balls, calculate with 45 legal balls, or 7.5 overs, where a decimal-over value is needed. Never read 7.3 as seven and three-tenths overs.
Related Guides
- How to Score Wides, No-Balls, Byes and Leg-Byes
- Batting Average vs Strike Rate: What Each Number Tells You