Batting average is total runs divided by dismissals, not by matches or every innings. A not-out innings contributes its runs but does not add a dismissal. A did-not-bat entry contributes neither an innings nor a dismissal.
A four-innings example
These figures are hypothetical and belong to one consistent statistical scope.
| Innings | Runs | Outcome | Dismissals added |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | 20 | Out | 1 |
| Second | 30 | Not out | 0 |
| Third | 0 | Out | 1 |
| Fourth | 10 | Not out | 0 |
The total is 60 runs and two dismissals. The batting average is 60 / 2 = 30.00. Dividing by four would produce 15 runs per innings, which answers a different question.
Scale the same calculation to a season
Suppose a record shows 420 runs in 15 batting innings, including three not-outs. Dismissals are 15 minus three = 12, so the average is 420 / 12 = 35.00. The result 28.00 from 420 / 15 is not the batting average.
- Select one format and competition or a clearly labelled combined scope.
- Add the runs from the included innings.
- Count the included dismissals, retaining the recorded outcome of each innings.
- Divide total runs by dismissals and round only the final result.
Zero not out is different from DNB
A batter recorded as zero not out has batted but has not been dismissed. DNB means did not bat. Neither adds a dismissal, but they are different entries when you count innings. Do not convert a missing score into a duck, and do not guess unusual retirement outcomes from an empty cell.
What if there are no dismissals?
The usual formula has a zero denominator. Preserve the total runs and not-out count, and show the average as unavailable or a dash according to the record's convention. Zero is misleading; an invented enormous number is not a batting average either.
A high average across a few innings is not proof of sustained performance. Keep innings and dismissals visible beside the value, especially when comparing different sample sizes. More score-reading articles.