Batting average (cricket)

In cricket, a player's batting average is the total number of runs they have scored divided by the number of times they have been out, 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's innings were completed (i.e. they were out every innings), this is the average number of runs they score per innings. If they did not complete all their innings (i.e. some innings they finished not 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 each type of match they 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.

Batting averages are sometimes calculated for whole teams, across a series or tournament. ^{[2] [3]}

Values

Most players have career batting averages in the range of 20 to 40. This is also the desirable range for wicket-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 the heavy roller in the 1870s (which allowed for a flatter, safer cricket pitch) an average of 25 was considered very good. ^[4]

• All-rounders who are more prominent bowlers than 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 as Alf Valentine, B. S. Chandrasekhar or Glenn McGrath were.

Career records for batting average are usually subject to a minimum qualification of 20 innings played or completed, in order to exclude batsmen who have not played enough games for their skill to be reliably assessed. Under this qualification, the highest Test batting average belongs to Australia's Sir Donald Bradman, with 99.94. Given that a career batting average over 50 is exceptional, and that only 4 other players have averages over 60, this is an outstanding statistic. The fact that Bradman's average is so far above that of any other cricketer has led several statisticians to argue that, statistically at least, he was the greatest athlete in any sport. ^[5]

Disregarding this 20 innings qualification, the highest career Test batting average is 144 by Kurtis 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 in One Day International (ODI) and T20 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

If a batter has been dismissed in every single innings, then this statistic gives exactly the average number of runs they score per innings.

However, for a batter with one or more innings which finished not 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 an estimate of the average number of runs they score per innings. If their scores have a geometric distribution, then this statistic is the maximum likelihood estimate of their true unknown average. ^[6]

Batting averages can be strongly affected by the number of not outs. For example, Phil Tufnell, who was noted for his poor batting, ^[7] has an apparently respectable ODI average 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. ^[8]

A batter who was not dismissed in any of the innings over which their average is being calculated does not have a batting average, as division by zero does not give a result. ^[9]

Leading male batting averages

First-class

See also: Highest career batting averages in first-class cricket

Highest career batting averages in first-class cricket as follows:

Rank	Batter	Matches	Innings	N.O.	Runs	Highest	Ave	First Class career
1	Don Bradman	234	338	43	28,067	452*	95.14	1927–49
2	Vijay Merchant	150	234	46	13,470	359*	71.64	1929–51
3	George Headley	103	164	22	9,921	344*	69.86	1927–54
4	Ajay Sharma	129	166	16	10,120	259*	67.46	1984–2001
5	Sarfaraz Khan	54	82	12	4,593	301*	65.61	2014–24
6	Bill Ponsford	162	235	23	13,819	437	65.18	1920–34
7	Bill Woodfull	174	245	39	13,388	284	64.99	1921–34
8	Shantanu Sugwekar	85	122	18	6,563	299*	63.10	1987–2002
9	Kamindu Mendis	56	87	7	4,920	200*	61.50	2018–25
10	K. C. Ibrahim	60	89	12	4,716	250	61.24	1938–50
Qualification for inclusion: 50 innings. Names in bold text are current players whose figures are likely to change. * denotes not out. Source: ESPNcricinfo. Last updated: 8 February 2025.

Test matches

Don Bradman

See also: Highest career batting averages in Tests

A batting average of above 50 is considered by many as a benchmark to distinguish between a good and a great batsman. ^[10] Highest male career batting averages in Test matches as follows:

Rank	Batter	Tests	Innings	N.O.	Runs	High Score	Average	Test career
1	Don Bradman	52	80	10	6,996	334	99.94	1928–48
2	Kamindu Mendis	12	21	2	1,184	182*	62.31	2022–25
3	Adam Voges	20	31	7	1,485	269*	61.87	2015–16
4	Graeme Pollock	23	41	4	2,256	274	60.97	1963–70
5	George Headley	22	40	4	2,190	270*	60.83	1930–54
6	Herbert Sutcliffe	54	84	9	4,555	194	60.73	1924–35
7	Eddie Paynter	20	31	5	1,540	243	59.23	1931–39
8	Ken Barrington	82	131	15	6,806	256	58.67	1955–68
9	Everton Weekes	48	81	5	4,455	207	58.61	1948–58
10	Harry Brook	24	40	1	2,281	317	58.48	2022–24
Qualification for inclusion: 20 innings. Names in bold text are current players whose figures are likely to change. * denotes not out. Source: ESPNcricinfo. Last updated: 8 February 2025.

One Day Internationals

See also: Highest career batting averages in ODIs

Highest career batting averages in One Day International cricket as follows:

Rank	Batter	ODIs	Innings	N.O.	Runs	Highest	Ave	ODI career
1	Ryan ten Doeschate	33	32	9	1,541	119	67.00	2006–11
2	Shubhman Gill	55	55	8	2,775	208	59.04	2019–25
3	Virat Kohli	302	290	45	14,181	183	57.88	2008–25
4	Dawid Malan	30	30	4	1,450	140	55.76	2019–23
5	Babar Azam	128	125	15	6,106	158	55.50	2015–25
6	Michael Bevan	232	196	67	6,912	108*	53.58	1994–2004
7	AB de Villiers	228	218	39	9,577	176	53.50	2005–18
8	Jonathan Trott	68	65	10	2,819	137	51.25	2009–13
9	MS Dhoni	350	297	84	10,773	183*	50.57	2004–19
10	Ben Duckett	22	22	1	1,058	165	50.38	2016–25
Qualification for inclusion: 20 innings. Names in bold text are current players whose figures are likely to change. * denotes not out. Source: ESPNcricinfo. Last updated: 9 March 2025

T20 Internationals

See also: Highest career batting averages in T20Is

Rank	Batsmen	T20Is	Innings	N.O.	Runs	Highest	Ave	T20I career
1	Sami Sohail	46	42	18	1,347	94*	56.12	2019–24
2	Tilak Varma	25	24	9	749	120*	49.93	2023–25
3	Virat Kohli	125	117	31	4,188	122*	48.69	2010–24
4	Muhammad Rizwan	106	93	21	3,414	104*	47.41	2015–24
5	Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming	35	35	4	1,420	114	45.80	2022–24
6	Manish Pandey	39	33	17	709	79*	44.31	2015–20
7	Muhammad Tanveer	61	57	16	1,781	88*	43.43	2019–24
8	Rinku Singh	33	24	11	546	69*	42.00	2023–25
9	Gustav McKeon	20	20	1	785	109	41.31	2022–24
10	Sabawoon Davizi	32	31	3	1,149	115*	41.03	2019–24
Qualification for inclusion: 20 innings. Names in bold text are current players whose figures are likely to change. * denotes not out. Source: ESPNcricinfo. Last updated: 2 February 2025.

Leading female batting averages

Test matches

See also: List of women's Test cricket records § Individual records (batting)

Rank	Batter	Tests	Innings	N.O.	Runs	High Score	Average	Test career
1	Denise Annetts	10	13	3	819	193	81.90	1987–92
2	Shafali Verma	5	10	1	567	205	63.00	2021–24
3	Lorraine Hill	7	10	2	499	118*	62.37	1975–77
4	Enid Bakewell	12	22	4	1,078	124	59.88	1968–79
5	Belinda Haggett	10	15	2	762	144	58.61	1987–92
6	Ellyse Perry	14	23	7	930	213*	58.12	2008–25
7	Betty Wilson	11	16	1	862	127	57.46	1948–58
8	Smriti Mandhana	7	12	1	629	149	57.18	2014–24
9	Karen Rolton	14	22	4	1,002	209*	55.66	1995–2009
10	Debbie Hockley	19	29	4	1,301	126*	52.04	1979–96
Qualification for inclusion: 10 innings. Names in bold text are current players whose figures are likely to change. * denotes not out. Source: ESPNcricinfo. Last updated: 2 February 2025

One Day Internationals

See also: List of women's One Day International cricket records § Highest career average

Rank	Batter	ODIs	Innings	N.O.	Runs	Highest	Ave.	ODI Career
1	Rachael Heyhoe Flint	23	20	9	643	114	58.45	1973–82
2	Lindsay Reeler	23	23	5	1,034	143*	57.44	1984–88
3	Meg Lanning	103	102	16	4,602	152*	53.51	2011–23
4	Bronwyn Calver	34	21	11	534	81*	53.40	1991–98
5	Mithali Raj	232	211	57	7,805	125*	50.68	1999–2022
6	Laura Wolvaardt	101	100	14	4,303	184*	50.03	2016–24
7	Ellyse Perry	155	128	42	4,187	112*	48.68	2007–25
8	Karen Rolton	141	132	32	4,814	154*	48.14	1995–2009
9	Wendy Watson	23	22	6	768	107*	48.00	1987–93
10	Belinda Clark	118	114	12	4,844	229*	47.49	1991–2005
Qualification for inclusion: 20 innings. Names in bold text are current players whose figures are likely to change. * denotes not out. Source: ESPNcricinfo. Correct to 17 January 2025.

T20 Internationals

See also: List of women's Twenty20 International records § Highest career average

Rank	Batter	T20Is	Innings	N.O.	Runs	Highest	Ave.	T20I Career
1	Lucy Barnett	21	20	9	742	96	67.45	2022–24
2	Tahlia McGrath	53	41	14	1,124	91*	41.62	2021–25
3	Beth Mooney	109	103	25	3,215	117*	41.21	2016–25
4	Christina Gough	42	40	12	1,096	101*	39.14	2019–24
5	Ni Luh Dewi	26	21	7	529	78	37.78	2023–24
6	Mithali Raj	89	84	21	2,364	97*	37.52	2006–19
7	Kathryn Bryce	49	47	13	1,273	73*	37.44	2018–24
8	Ni Putu Ayu Nanda Sakarini	42	37	11	968	95*	37.23	2019–24
9	Meg Lanning	132	121	28	3,405	133*	36.61	2010–23
10	Sterre Kalis	44	44	6	1,358	126*	35.73	2018–25
Qualification for inclusion: 20 innings. Names in bold text are current players whose figures are likely to change. * denotes not out. Source: ESPNcricinfo. Correct to 7 February 2025.

Alternatives

Alternative measures of batting effectiveness have been developed, including:

Strike rate

Main article: Strike rate

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 in limited overs matches, where the speed at which a batter scores is more important than it is in first-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

Main article: ICC Player Rankings

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

• Cricket statistics
• Batting average
• Bowling average

References

1. Date, Kartikeya (29 May 2014). "The calculus of the batting average". ESPNcricinfo . Retrieved 10 March 2020.
2. Zaltzman, Andy (4 July 2023). "Ashes 2023: Andy Zaltzman on why England's profligacy is costing them". BBC SPORT. Retrieved 31 August 2024. The numerical facts are that England have scored 1260 runs off the bat to Australia's 1245... both sides have lost 38 wickets. Thus, England's batting line-up has a collective average of 33.1, Australia's 32.7.
3. Coverdale, Brydon (3 November 2014). "Trashing the brand". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 31 August 2024. Perhaps the most damning statistic was that the difference between Pakistan's collective batting average of 80.15 and Australia's of 25.65 was the all-time biggest gap in an Australian series defeat.
4. Rae, Simon (1998). W.G. Grace: A Life. London: Faber and Faber. p. 26. ISBN   0571178553.
5. "Sir Donald Bradman". Players and Officials. Cricinfo.com. Retrieved 27 April 2006.
6. 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. SSRN   2117199.
7. Lister, Simon (28 July 2007). "The Jack of all rabbits". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 17 October 2007.
8. "Phil Tufnell". Cricinfo.
9. "Why did Stuart Law only play one Test for Australia?". Wisden. 28 March 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2025. 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.
10. Varghese, Mathew (12 October 2007). "A genuine matchwinner – A statistical look at Inzamam-ul-Haq's Test career". ESPNcricinfo.