How to Track Cricket Batting and Bowling Statistics

Cricket Guides · Player Statistics

How to Track Your Cricket Batting and Bowling Statistics

Learn which numbers to record after every match, how to work out average, strike rate and economy, and how to keep your records accurate across a season.

To track your cricket batting and bowling statistics, record a few raw numbers after every match and calculate your averages from the running totals. Batters note runs, balls faced and whether they were dismissed. Bowlers note balls bowled, runs conceded and wickets.

From those figures you can work out batting average, strike rate, bowling economy, bowling average and bowling strike rate. The formulas are simple. Most mistakes come from how overs and not-outs are handled, so this guide covers both.

The short answer

Batting average = runs ÷ times dismissed

Strike rate = runs ÷ balls faced × 100

Economy = runs conceded ÷ overs bowled

What to Record After Every Match

Good statistics start with good records. Write the figures down soon after the match, while the details are still fresh. The raw numbers matter more than the calculated ones, because you can always recalculate from them.

Batting record

Runs scored
Balls faced
Out or not out
Fours and sixes (optional)

Bowling record

Balls bowled, or overs
Runs conceded
Wickets taken
Wides, no-balls and maidens (optional)

Where you can, store bowling in balls rather than decimal overs. It removes a common source of conversion errors, which we come back to below.

Batting Average and Strike Rate Explained

Batting average is your total runs divided by the number of innings in which you were dismissed. A not-out innings adds runs to the top of the sum but not a dismissal to the bottom, which is why not-outs lift an average. If you have never been dismissed, the average is undefined.

Strike rate is the runs you score per 100 balls faced. A strike rate of 135 means 135 runs for every 100 balls. Average shows how reliably you score, while strike rate shows how quickly.

Batting formulas Average = Runs ÷ Dismissals Strike rate = Runs ÷ Balls faced × 100

Worked example

Innings	Runs	Balls faced	Dismissed?
1	42	32	Yes
2	18*	14	No (not out)
3	0	3	Yes
4	65	40	Yes
Total	125	89	3 dismissals

Average: 125 ÷ 3 = 41.67

Strike rate: 125 ÷ 89 × 100 = 140.45

Bowling Economy, Average and Strike Rate

Bowlers are usually judged on three numbers. Economy is the runs conceded per over. Bowling average is the runs conceded per wicket. Bowling strike rate is the balls bowled per wicket. For all three, lower is better.

Statistic	Formula	What it tells you
Economy	Runs ÷ overs	How tightly you bowl
Bowling average	Runs ÷ wickets	Runs given per wicket
Bowling strike rate	Balls ÷ wickets	How often you take a wicket

Worked example

Match	Overs	Balls	Runs	Wickets
1	4.0	24	28	2
2	3.2	20	30	1
3	4.0	24	22	0
Total	11.2	68	80	3

Economy: 80 ÷ (68 ÷ 6) = 80 ÷ 11.333 = 7.06

Bowling average: 80 ÷ 3 = 26.67

Bowling strike rate: 68 ÷ 3 = 22.67

Overs are not decimals

The digit after the dot counts balls, and an over has six. So 3.2 overs is 3 overs and 2 balls, or 20 balls. Add balls, not decimals: 3.2 + 3.4 overs is 20 + 22 = 42 balls, which is exactly 7 overs, not 6.6.

What counts against a bowler

Wides and no-balls are charged to the bowler as runs conceded. Byes and leg byes are not. Run-outs are not credited to the bowler as wickets. Following these rules keeps your figures in line with the official scorecard.

How to Keep Records Across Matches

A season of statistics is only as good as the habit behind it. Four steps are enough.

Choose one place

Use a notebook or a spreadsheet, and use the same one for every match so nothing is scattered.
Log raw numbers per innings

One row per innings or spell: date, opponent, format, then the batting or bowling figures from the previous section.
Keep running totals

Add up runs, balls faced, dismissals, balls bowled, runs conceded and wickets as you go.
Calculate from the totals

Work out each statistic from the totals, never by averaging your match-by-match figures, because innings differ in length.

Practical tip

Keep separate totals for each format. A strike rate or economy from a short-format match is not comparable with one from a longer game. Also be careful about conclusions from only a few innings, since one big score or one expensive spell can swing the numbers.

Using CricLive scorecards as your source

If your matches are scored on CricLive, the scorecard gives you the raw figures to copy. CricLive is a free cricket scoring app for local cricket, and it records every delivery, including runs, wickets, wides and no-balls. Its scorecards show batting, bowling and partnership figures, and player profiles display stats. Browse live and completed games on the CricLive matches page. Features can change, so check the app to see exactly which figures it shows for you.

Common Tracking Mistakes

Averaging averages. Add the totals first, then divide once.
Counting not-outs as dismissals. Only innings where you were out go into the average.
Adding overs as decimals. Convert to balls before you add.
Mixing formats. Keep totals for each format separate.

Cricket Statistics FAQ

How do you calculate batting average in cricket?

Divide total runs scored by the number of innings in which you were dismissed. Not-out innings add runs but do not add a dismissal.

How do you calculate bowling economy?

Divide runs conceded by overs bowled. If overs include extra balls, convert them first: 3.2 overs is 3 and 2/6, or about 3.333 overs.

Is a lower or higher bowling average better?

Lower is better. Bowling average is runs conceded per wicket, so a smaller number means the bowler gives away fewer runs for each wicket.

Do byes and leg byes count against the bowler?

No. Byes and leg byes are not charged to the bowler. Wides and no-balls are charged to the bowler as runs conceded.

Should I track statistics separately for each format?

Yes. Strike rate and economy depend heavily on match length and conditions, so keep separate totals for each format you play.

Turn Your Matches into Numbers You Can Track

Explore CricLive to score local matches ball by ball and follow scorecards and player stats.

Explore CricLive

Test Your Stats Knowledge

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Quick Facts

Batting averageRuns ÷ dismissals
Strike rateRuns ÷ balls × 100
EconomyRuns ÷ overs
Bowling averageRuns ÷ wickets
Bowling strike rateBalls ÷ wickets
Balls in an over6 legal balls

What to Record After Every Match

Batting record

Bowling record

Batting Average and Strike Rate Explained

Worked example

Bowling Economy, Average and Strike Rate

Worked example

What counts against a bowler

How to Keep Records Across Matches

Choose one place

Log raw numbers per innings

Keep running totals

Calculate from the totals

Using CricLive scorecards as your source

Common Tracking Mistakes

Cricket Statistics FAQ

Turn Your Matches into Numbers You Can Track