Batting average (cricket)
Incricket,a players'batting averageis the total number ofrunsthey have scored divided by the number of times they have beenout,usually given to two decimal places. Since the number of runs a player scores and how often they get out are primarily measures of their own playing ability, and largely independent of their teammates, batting average is a good metric for an individual player's skill as a batter (although the practice of drawing comparisons between players on this basis is not without criticism[1]). The number is also simple to interpret intuitively. If all the batter'sinningswere completed (i.e. they were out every innings), this is theaveragenumber of runs they score per innings. If they did not complete all their innings (i.e. some innings they finishednot out), this number is an estimate of the unknown average number of runs they score per innings.
Each player normally has several batting averages, with a different figure calculated for eachtype of matchthey play (first-class, one-day, Test matches, List A, T20, etc.), and a player's batting averages may be calculated for individual seasons or series, or at particular grounds, or against particular opponents, or across their whole career.
Batting average has been used to gauge cricket players' relative skills since the 18th century.
Values[edit]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c1/CricketBattingAverageHistogram.png/400px-CricketBattingAverageHistogram.png)
Most players have career batting averages in the range of 20 to 40. This is also the desirable range forwicket-keepers,though some fall short and make up for it with keeping skill. Until a substantial increase in scores in the 21st century due to improved bats and smaller grounds among other factors, players who sustained an average above 50 through a career were considered exceptional, and before the development of theheavy rollerin the 1870s (which allowed for a flatter, safer cricket pitch) an average of 25 was considered very good.[2]
- All-rounders who are more prominentbowlersthan batsmen typically average something between 20 and 30.
- 15 and under is typical for specialist bowlers.
- A small number of players have averaged less than 5 for a complete career, though a player with such an average is a liability unless an exceptional bowler such asAlf Valentine,B. S. ChandrasekharorGlenn McGrathwere.
Career records for batting average are usually subject to a minimum qualification of 20inningsplayed or completed, in order to exclude batsmen who have not played enough games for their skill to be reliably assessed. Under this qualification, the highestTestbatting average belongs toAustralia's SirDonald Bradman,with 99.94. Given that a career batting average over 50 is exceptional, and that only4 other playershave averages over 60, this is an outstanding statistic. The fact that Bradman's average is so far above that ofanyother cricketer has led several statisticians to argue that, statistically at least, he was the greatest athlete in any sport.[3]
Disregarding this 20 innings qualification, the highest career Test batting average is 144 byKurtis Patterson,who scored 144 runs and was dismissed once in his two Test innings. He then fell out of the Australian squad due to a loss of form and injury.
Batting averages inOne Day International(ODI) andT20 International(T20I) cricket tend to be lower than in Test cricket because of the need to score runs more quickly. Consequently, batters tend to play riskier strokes and less emphasis is placed on building an innings in order to amass a high individual score. It should also be remembered, especially in relation to the ODI and T20I histograms above, that there were no ODI or T20I matches when Bradman played.
Interpretation[edit]
If a batter has been dismissed in every single innings, then this statistic gives exactly theaveragenumber of runs they score per innings.
However, for a batter with one or more innings which finishednot out,the true mean or average number of runs they score per innings is unknown as it is not known how many runs they would have scored if they could have completed all their not out innings. In this case, this statistic is anestimateof the average number of runs they score per innings. If their scores have ageometric distribution,then this statistic is themaximum likelihood estimateof their true unknown average.[4]
Batting averages can be strongly affected by the number of not outs. For example,Phil Tufnell,who was noted for his poor batting,[5]has an apparently respectableODIaverage of 15 (from 20 games), despite a highest score of only 5 not out, as he scored an overall total of 15 runs from 10 innings, but was out only once.[6]
A batter who has not been dismissed in any of the innings over which their average is being calculated does not have a batting average, asdivision by zerodoes not give a result.[7]
Leading male batting averages[edit]
First-class[edit]
Highest career batting averages infirst-class cricketas follows:
Rank | Batter | Matches | Innings | N.O. | Runs | Highest | Ave | First Class career dates |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
234 | 338 | 43 | 28,067 | 452* | 95.14 | 1927–49 |
2 | ![]() |
150 | 234 | 46 | 13,470 | 359* | 71.64 | 1929–51 |
3 | ![]() |
103 | 164 | 22 | 9,921 | 344* | 69.86 | 1927–54 |
4 | ![]() |
48 | 71 | 11 | 4,112 | 301* | 68.53 | 2014–24 |
5 | ![]() |
129 | 166 | 16 | 10,120 | 259* | 67.46 | 1984–2001 |
6 | ![]() |
162 | 235 | 23 | 13,819 | 437 | 65.18 | 1920–34 |
7 | ![]() |
174 | 245 | 39 | 13,388 | 284 | 64.99 | 1921–34 |
8 | ![]() |
46 | 71 | 6 | 4,164 | 200* | 64.01 | 2018–24 |
9 | ![]() |
85 | 122 | 18 | 6,563 | 299* | 63.10 | 1987–2002 |
10 | ![]() |
60 | 89 | 12 | 4,716 | 250 | 61.24 | 1938–50 |
Qualification for inclusion: 50 innings. Names inbold textare current players whose figures are likely to change. * denotes not out. Source:ESPNcricinfo.Last updated: 27 April 2024. |
Test matches[edit]
A batting average of above 50 is considered by many as a benchmark to distinguish between a good and a great batsman.[8]Highest male career batting averages inTest matchesas follows:
Rank | Batter | Tests | Innings | Not out |
Runs | High Score |
Average | Test career dates |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
52 | 80 | 10 | 6,996 | 334 | 99.94 | 1928–48 |
2 | ![]() |
12 | 20 | 1 | 1,181 | 186 | 62.15 | 2022–23 |
3 | ![]() |
20 | 31 | 7 | 1,485 | 269* | 61.87 | 2015–16 |
4 | ![]() |
23 | 41 | 4 | 2,256 | 274 | 60.97 | 1963–70 |
5 | ![]() |
22 | 40 | 4 | 2,190 | 270* | 60.83 | 1930–54 |
6 | ![]() |
54 | 84 | 9 | 4,555 | 194 | 60.73 | 1924–35 |
7 | ![]() |
20 | 31 | 5 | 1,540 | 243 | 59.23 | 1931–39 |
8 | ![]() |
82 | 131 | 15 | 6,806 | 256 | 58.67 | 1955–68 |
9 | ![]() |
48 | 81 | 5 | 4,455 | 207 | 58.61 | 1948–58 |
10 | ![]() |
85 | 140 | 16 | 7,249 | 336* | 58.45 | 1927–47 |
Qualification for inclusion: 20 innings. Names inbold textare current players whose figures are likely to change. * denotes not out. Source:ESPNcricinfo.Last updated: 8 January 2024. |
One Day Internationals[edit]
Highest career batting averages inOne Day Internationalcricket as follows:
Rank | Batter | ODIs | Innings | N.O. | Runs | Highest | Ave | ODI career dates |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
33 | 32 | 9 | 1,541 | 119 | 67.00 | 2006–11 |
2 | ![]() |
44 | 44 | 7 | 2,271 | 208 | 61.37 | 2019–23 |
3 | ![]() |
292 | 280 | 44 | 13,848 | 183 | 58.67 | 2008–23 |
4 | ![]() |
117 | 114 | 13 | 5,729 | 158 | 56.72 | 2015–23 |
5 | ![]() |
30 | 30 | 4 | 1,450 | 140 | 55.76 | 2019–23 |
6 | ![]() |
232 | 196 | 67 | 6,912 | 108* | 53.58 | 1994–2004 |
7 | ![]() |
228 | 218 | 39 | 9,577 | 176 | 53.50 | 2005–18 |
8 | ![]() |
39 | 35 | 5 | 1,577 | 134 | 52.56 | 2021–23 |
9 | ![]() |
62 | 56 | 11 | 2,360 | 134 | 52.44 | 2019–23 |
10 | ![]() |
68 | 65 | 10 | 2,819 | 137 | 51.25 | 2009–13 |
Qualification for inclusion: 20 innings. Names inbold textare current players whose figures are likely to change. * denotes not out. Source:ESPNcricinfo.Last updated: 21 March 2024 |
T20 Internationals[edit]
Rank | Batsmen | T20Is | Innings | N.O. | Runs | Highest | Ave | T20I career dates |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
32 | 28 | 14 | 911 | 94* | 65.07 | 2019–24 |
2 | ![]() |
28 | 27 | 10 | 857 | 80* | 50.41 | 2022–24 |
3 | ![]() |
102 | 89 | 21 | 3,313 | 104* | 48.72 | 2015–24 |
4 | ![]() |
125 | 117 | 31 | 4,188 | 122* | 48.69 | 2010–24 |
5 | ![]() |
50 | 46 | 13 | 1,499 | 88* | 45.42 | 2019–24 |
6 | ![]() |
39 | 33 | 17 | 709 | 79* | 44.31 | 2015–20 |
7 | ![]() |
27 | 27 | 2 | 1,089 | 114 | 43.56 | 2022–24 |
8 | ![]() |
68 | 65 | 11 | 2,340 | 117 | 43.33 | 2021–24 |
9 | ![]() |
23 | 22 | 6 | 678 | 117 | 42.37 | 2019–23 |
10 | ![]() |
20 | 20 | 1 | 785 | 109 | 41.31 | 2022–24 |
Qualification for inclusion: 20 innings. Names inbold textare current players whose figures are likely to change. * denotes not out. Source:ESPNcricinfo.Last updated: 30 June 2024. |
Leading female batting averages[edit]
Test matches[edit]
Rank | Batter | Tests | Innings | Not out | Runs | High Score | Average | Test career dates |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
10 | 13 | 3 | 819 | 193 | 81.90 | 1987-1992 |
2 | ![]() |
7 | 10 | 2 | 499 | 118* | 62.37 | 1975-1977 |
3 | ![]() |
13 | 22 | 7 | 928 | 213* | 61.86 | 2008-2023 |
4 | ![]() |
12 | 22 | 4 | 1,078 | 124 | 59.88 | 1968-1979 |
5 | ![]() |
10 | 15 | 2 | 762 | 144 | 58.61 | 1987-1992 |
6 | ![]() |
11 | 16 | 1 | 862 | 127 | 57.46 | 1948-1958 |
7 | ![]() |
14 | 22 | 4 | 1,002 | 209* | 55.66 | 1995-2009 |
8 | ![]() |
19 | 29 | 4 | 1,301 | 126* | 52.04 | 1979-1996 |
9 | ![]() |
13 | 23 | 1 | 1,110 | 190 | 50.45 | 1984-1995 |
10 | ![]() |
7 | 10 | 0 | 503 | 110 | 50.30 | 1999-2006 |
Qualification for inclusion: 10 innings. Names inbold textare current players whose figures are likely to change. * denotes not out. Source:ESPNcricinfo.Last updated: 21 March 2024. |
One Day Internationals[edit]
Rank | Batter | ODIs | Innings | N.O. | Runs | Highest | Ave. | ODI Career Dates |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
23 | 20 | 9 | 643 | 114 | 58.45 | 1973-1982 |
2 | ![]() |
23 | 23 | 5 | 1,034 | 143* | 57.44 | 1984-1988 |
3 | ![]() |
103 | 102 | 16 | 4,602 | 152* | 53.51 | 2011-2023 |
4 | ![]() |
34 | 21 | 11 | 534 | 81* | 53.40 | 1991-1998 |
5 | ![]() |
74 | 67 | 21 | 2,380 | 133 | 51.73 | 2016-2024 |
6 | ![]() |
147 | 120 | 42 | 3,948 | 112* | 50.74 | 2007-2024 |
7 | ![]() |
232 | 211 | 57 | 7,805 | 125* | 50.68 | 1999-2022 |
8 | ![]() |
95 | 94 | 12 | 4,814 | 154* | 48.14 | 2016-2024 |
9 | ![]() |
141 | 132 | 32 | 3,948 | 184* | 48.14 | 1995-2009 |
10 | ![]() |
23 | 22 | 6 | 768 | 107* | 48.00 | 1987-1993 |
Qualification for inclusion: 20 innings. Names inbold textare current players whose figures are likely to change. * denotes not out. Source:ESPNcricinfo.Last updated: 27 April 2024. |
T20 Internationals[edit]
Rank | Batter | T20Is | Innings | N.O. | Runs | Highest | Ave. | T20I Career Dates |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
42 | 32 | 10 | 962 | 91* | 43.72 | 2021-2024 |
2 | ![]() |
38 | 36 | 12 | 1,030 | 101* | 42.91 | 2019-2023 |
3 | ![]() |
98 | 92 | 23 | 2,829 | 117* | 41.00 | 2016-2024 |
4 | ![]() |
45 | 43 | 13 | 1,197 | 73* | 39.90 | 2018-2024 |
5 | ![]() |
36 | 32 | 9 | 887 | 95* | 38.56 | 2018-2024 |
6 | ![]() |
89 | 84 | 21 | 2,364 | 97* | 37.52 | 2006-2019 |
7 | ![]() |
132 | 121 | 28 | 3,405 | 133* | 36.61 | 2010-2023 |
8 | ![]() |
66 | 60 | 16 | 1,609 | 102 | 36.56 | 2016-2024 |
9 | ![]() |
34 | 34 | 4 | 1,088 | 126* | 36.26 | 2018-2024 |
10 | ![]() |
45 | 44 | 9 | 1,245 | 127* | 35.57 | 2019-2023 |
Qualification for inclusion: 20 innings. Names inbold textare current players whose figures are likely to change. * denotes not out. Source:ESPNcricinfo.Last updated: 27 April 2024. |
Alternatives[edit]
Alternative measures of batting effectiveness have been developed, including:
Strike rate[edit]
Strike rate measures a different concept to batting average – how quickly the batsman scores (i.e. average number of runs from 100 balls) – so it does not supplant the role of batting average. It is used particularly inlimited overs matches,where the speed at which a batter scores is more important than it is infirst-class cricket.Strike rate may also be used to compare a player's ability to score runs against differing types of bowling (i.e. spin, fast bowling).
Player rankings[edit]
A system of player rankings was developed to produce a better indication of players' current standings than is provided by comparing their averages.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^Date, Kartikeya (29 May 2014)."The calculus of the batting average".ESPNcricinfo.Retrieved10 March2020.
- ^Rae, Simon(1998).W.G. Grace: A Life.London: Faber and Faber. p. 26.ISBN0571178553.
- ^"Sir Donald Bradman".Players and Officials.Cricinfo.Retrieved27 April2006.
- ^Das, Shubhabratha (2011). "On Generalized Geometric Distributions: Application to Modeling Scores in Cricket and Improved Estimation of Batting Average in Light of Notout Innings".Social Science Research Network.SSRN2117199.
- ^Lister, Simon(28 July 2007)."The Jack of all rabbits".ESPNcricinfo.Archivedfrom the original on 17 October 2007.
- ^"Phil Tufnell".Cricinfo.
- ^"Why did Stuart Law only play one Test for Australia?".Wisden.28 March 2020.Retrieved23 July2022.
However, only 54 of those runs came in Australian Test whites, with Law making an unbeaten half-century in his only Test innings, meaning he finished his career without a Test average.
- ^Varghese, Mathew (12 October 2007)."A genuine matchwinner – A statistical look at Inzamam-ul-Haq's Test career".ESPNcricinfo.