Economy, bowling average and bowling strike rate use different denominators. Economy is runs conceded per over, average is runs conceded per credited wicket, and strike rate is valid balls per credited wicket. They are not three labels for the same measure.
Read the bowling line
A conventional O, M, R, W line shows overs, maidens, runs charged to the bowler and wickets credited to the bowler. For this hypothetical example, use 7.4 overs, 36 runs and three wickets. Convert the overs first: seven times six plus four = 46 valid balls.
Maiden overs remain part of the overs bowled. Do not subtract them from the denominator. Use the bowler's runs-conceded figure rather than the opposing team's total, and use credited bowling wickets rather than all dismissals. A run-out, for example, is not credited as a bowling wicket.
Calculate all three measures
| Measure | Calculation | Result and unit |
|---|---|---|
| Economy | 36 × 6 / 46 | 4.70 runs per over |
| Average | 36 / 3 | 12.00 runs per wicket |
| Strike rate | 46 / 3 | 15.33 balls per wicket |
Round after calculating. Dividing 36 by decimal 7.4 would produce the wrong economy because 7.4 is recorded overs notation, not seven and four-tenths overs.
Handle wicketless spells honestly
If the same 46-ball, 36-run spell has no credited wickets, its economy can still be calculated as 4.70. Bowling average and strike rate now have zero denominators and should remain unavailable rather than being printed as zero.
If no valid balls have been bowled, economy also has a zero denominator. Keep the original figures; an unavailable rate is not evidence that the bowler conceded no runs.
Combine spells before comparing
For several spells, add valid balls, charged runs and credited wickets separately. Recalculate each measure from those totals instead of averaging the displayed values. A short spell and a long spell should not automatically have equal weight.
These measures describe different aspects of the record. A lower economy alone does not show more frequent wickets, and a low strike rate alone does not show low run concession. Keep format and sample size visible. Back to cricket articles.