Bowling Average Calculator
The Bowling Average Calculator helps you evaluate a bowler’s effectiveness by calculating how many runs are conceded per wicket taken. By entering total runs conceded and wickets taken, the calculator instantly shows your bowling average along with a performance level description. This metric is widely used in cricket to assess consistency, control, and overall bowling quality.
What Is Bowling Average in Cricket?
Bowling average is one of the most important statistics used to measure a bowler’s performance. It represents the average number of runs a bowler gives away for each wicket they take.
Bowling average is important because it:
- Reflects how difficult a bowler is to score against
- Rewards wicket-taking ability combined with economy
- Allows fair comparison between bowlers
- Is used at all levels, from amateur to professional cricket
Lower bowling averages indicate stronger bowling performance.
How to Use the Bowling Average Calculator
The calculator requires only two basic inputs related to bowling performance.
Input fields explained:
- Runs Conceded
Enter the total number of runs you have given away while bowling. - Wickets Taken
Enter the total number of wickets you have taken. This value must be greater than zero to calculate an average.
Once both values are entered, the calculator automatically computes your bowling average and performance level.
What the Bowling Average Calculator Shows
After calculation, the tool displays:
- Bowling Average – runs conceded per wicket
- Performance Level – a descriptive evaluation of bowling quality
This makes it easy to understand both the numerical result and its practical meaning.
How Does the Bowling Average Calculator Work?
The calculator uses the standard cricket bowling average formula.
In simple terms:
- Bowling Average = Runs Conceded ÷ Wickets Taken
The result is rounded to two decimal places for clarity. Performance levels are assigned based on commonly accepted cricket benchmarks.
Example Bowling Average Calculation
Here is a practical example using real calculator data:
- Runs Conceded: 42
- Wickets Taken: 3
Calculated results:
- Bowling Average: 14.00
- Performance Level: Extraordinary bowling skills
This indicates a very high-quality bowling performance with excellent wicket efficiency.
Bowling Average Performance Levels
Bowling averages are often grouped into performance ranges to help interpret results more easily.
| Bowling Average | Performance Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Below 15 | Extraordinary |
| 15–20 | Excellent |
| 20–25 | Very Good |
| 25–30 | Good |
| Above 30 | Needs Improvement |
These ranges provide general guidance and may vary slightly depending on format and playing level.
Based on 2 sources
- 1. Lemmer, H. H. (2013). The Analysis of Cricket: A Statistical Approach. CRC Press.
- 2. Kimber, J. (2018). Cricket and Statistics. Pitch Publishing.
Bowling Average Calculator - FAQ
Add your total pins from all league games, then divide by the number of games bowled. Drop any decimal to get your official average. For example, if you've bowled 24 games with 3,648 total pins, your average is 152 (3,648 ÷ 24 = 152). League averages must include a minimum number of games (typically 21) to become official for prize fund purposes. Some leagues have re-rating rules that allow officials to adjust your average upward if you consistently score significantly above your entering average, preventing sandbagging.
In ten-pin bowling, your average equals total pins divided by games played—higher numbers show better performance. Cricket bowling average divides runs conceded by wickets taken, where lower numbers indicate superior bowling. A ten-pin bowling average of 180 represents competitive recreational skill, while a cricket bowling average of 25 signifies excellent performance. These are completely different sports using the same terminology. Ten-pin bowling happens in alleys with a heavy ball and pins, while cricket bowling involves delivering a ball to batsmen on a pitch.
Most leagues require 9-21 games to establish an official average, though the exact number varies by league rules. Until you reach the minimum, you'll use an estimated average, your highest average from another current league, or a previous season's average. Your average becomes more reliable and stable after 21+ games because short-term variance smooths out. For casual bowlers tracking personal improvement, at least 12 games provides a reasonably accurate baseline, though 30+ games gives you the most reliable measurement of your consistent skill level.
Yes, a 200 average is excellent for recreational bowlers and marks the threshold of advanced skill. Only about 32% of league bowlers average 210 or higher, meaning a 200 average places you well above typical recreational players. At this level, you're consistently making spares, throwing multiple strikes per game, and have mastered basic lane play strategies. Competitive league bowlers typically range from 180-210, while professional bowlers average 225+. Reaching a 200 average requires good spare shooting technique, consistent strike ball, and regular practice—it's a significant accomplishment that many bowlers work years to achieve.
Beginners typically average between 50-100 during their first few sessions. After learning basic techniques, most casual bowlers settle into the 110-150 range. Focus less on achieving a specific number and more on consistent improvement. Track your progress over 10-15 games to see your true baseline. A beginner who improves from 80 to 110 over two months is making excellent progress. Work on spare conversion first—picking up single-pin spares alone can add 15-20 pins to your average. Your average will naturally increase as your approach, release, and targeting become more consistent through regular practice.
Add the scores from all three games, then divide by 3. For example, if you bowl 165, 178, and 143, your series is 486 (165+178+143). Divide 486 by 3 to get 162 as your per-game average for that series. In league play, your series total matters for team scoring, while your individual game scores update your season average. Always drop decimals—if your calculation gives 162.7, your official average for that series is 162. The series average might differ from your season average because it reflects just those three games rather than your cumulative performance.
Bowling tradition dictates always rounding down (truncating) rather than using standard rounding or keeping decimals. This standardization ensures consistency across all leagues, tournaments, and bowling centers worldwide. If your calculation produces 189.6, your official average is 189, not 190. This rule prevents disputes about rounding methods and keeps scorekeeping uniform. The practice dates back to manual scorekeeping when officials recorded averages on paper forms. Fractions of pins don't exist in actual gameplay, so averages reflect whole numbers only. Every bowler follows this same rule regardless of skill level or competition type.
Bowling handicap uses your average to calculate pins added to your score in league competition. The formula is: (Basis Score - Your Average) × Percentage = Handicap. If your league uses 90% of 200 and you average 140, your handicap is 54 pins ((200-140) × 0.90 = 54). This handicap gets added to each game score so bowlers of different skill levels can compete fairly. Lower-average bowlers receive larger handicaps, theoretically giving everyone an equal chance to win. Different leagues use different basis scores (often 200, 210, or 220) and percentages (typically 80-100%), so your handicap varies between leagues even with the same average.
