How it works
Three numbers describe a bowler’s figures, and each answers a different question.
- Economy rate: runs conceded per over. How expensive was the bowler?
- Bowling average: runs conceded per wicket. How many runs did each wicket cost?
- Strike rate: balls bowled per wicket. How often did the bowler take a wicket?
For all three, lower is better. Economy matters most in T20 cricket, strike rate and average in Tests. The calculator converts overs to balls first, so 38.4 overs is 232 balls rather than 38.4 of anything.
The formula
balls = overs × 6 + extra balls (38.4 → 232)
economy rate = runs ÷ (balls ÷ 6)
average = runs ÷ wickets
strike rate = balls ÷ wickets
dot ball % = dot balls ÷ balls × 100Worked example
A bowler has 14 wickets for 286 runs from 38.4 overs, with 118 dot balls.
- Balls: 38 × 6 + 4 = 232.
- Economy: 286 ÷ (232 ÷ 6) = 7.40 an over.
- Average: 286 ÷ 14 = 20.43 runs a wicket.
- Strike rate: 232 ÷ 14 = 16.6 balls a wicket.
- Dot balls: 118 ÷ 232 = 50.9%.
Questions
Do wides and no balls count against the bowler?
Yes. Runs from wides and no balls are charged to the bowler. Those deliveries do not count as balls in the over, so they add runs without adding balls. Byes and leg byes are not charged to the bowler.
What if the bowler has no wickets?
Then average and strike rate cannot be worked out, because they are per wicket. Scorecards show a dash, and the calculator shows the economy rate on its own.
Why convert overs to balls first?
Because 38.4 overs is 38 overs and 4 balls, not 38.4 overs in decimal terms. Using 38.4 directly would understate the balls bowled and give a slightly wrong economy rate.
Which figure matters most?
It depends on the format. In T20 cricket, keeping the economy rate down is often worth as much as taking wickets. In Test cricket, average and strike rate matter more, because a team usually has to take 20 wickets to win.