Editing Bowling average

{{Short description|Statistic used to compare cricket bowlers}}
{{for|information on average in [[Ten-pin bowling]]|Glossary of bowling#Other bowling terms and jargon}}
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[[File:George Lohmann 1895b.jpg|thumb|alt=George Lohmann|Of bowlers who have bowled at least 600 balls in [[Test cricket]], [[George Lohmann]] has the lowest career bowling average, 10.75.<ref name="CATest">{{cite web |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Records/Test/Overall/Bowling/Lowest_Career_Bowling_Average.html |title=Test Lowest Career Bowling Average |website=CricketArchive |access-date=6 January 2013}}</ref>]]
In [[cricket]], a player's '''bowling average''' is the number of [[Run (cricket)|run]]s they have conceded per [[Wicket#Dismissal_of_a_batsman|wicket]] taken. The lower the bowling average is, the better the [[Bowling (cricket)|bowler]] is performing. It is one of a number of statistics used to compare bowlers, commonly used alongside the [[Economy rate (cricket)|economy rate]] and the [[Strike rate#Bowling strike rate|strike rate]] to judge the overall performance of a bowler. 

When a bowler has taken only a small number of wickets, their bowling average can be artificially high or low, and unstable, with further wickets taken or runs conceded resulting in large changes to their bowling average. Due to this, qualification restrictions are generally applied when determining which players have the best bowling averages. After applying these criteria, [[George Lohmann]] holds the record for the lowest average in [[Test cricket]], having claimed 112 wickets at an average of 10.75 runs per wicket.

==Calculation==
A cricketer's bowling average is calculated by dividing the numbers of [[Run (cricket)|run]]s they have conceded by the number of [[Wicket#Dismissal_of_a_batsman|wicket]]s they have taken.<ref>van Staden (2008), p. 2.</ref> The number of runs conceded by a bowler is determined as the total number of runs that the opposing side have scored while the bowler was bowling, excluding any [[Bye (cricket)|bye]]s, [[leg bye]]s,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/rules_and_equipment/4181604.stm |title=Understanding byes and leg byes |work=BBC Sport |access-date=6 January 2013}}</ref> or [[penalty run]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lords.org/laws-and-spirit/laws-of-cricket/laws/law-42-fair-and-unfair-play,68,AR.html |title=Law 42 (Fair and unfair play) |publisher=[[Marylebone Cricket Club]] |year=2010 |access-date=6 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130105121449/http://www.lords.org/laws-and-spirit/laws-of-cricket/laws/law-42-fair-and-unfair-play%2C68%2CAR.html |archive-date=5 January 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The bowler receives credit for any wickets taken during their bowling that are either [[bowled]], [[caught]], [[hit wicket]], [[leg before wicket]] or [[stumped]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lords.org/data/files/laws-of-cricket-2000-code-4th-edition-final-10422.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923034426/http://www.lords.org/data/files/laws-of-cricket-2000-code-4th-edition-final-10422.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 September 2010 |title=The Laws of Cricket (2000 Code 4th Edition – 2010) |publisher=Marylebone Cricket Club |year=2010 |pages=42–49 |access-date=6 January 2013 }}</ref>

<math>\mathrm{Bowling~average} = \frac{\mathrm{Runs~conceded}}{\mathrm{Wickets~taken}}</math>

A number of flaws have been identified for the statistic, most notable among these the fact that a bowler who has taken no wickets cannot have a bowling average, as [[Division by zero|dividing by zero]] does not give a result. The effect of this is that the bowling average cannot distinguish between a bowler who has taken no wickets and conceded one run, and a bowler who has taken no wickets and conceded one hundred runs. The bowling average also does not tend to give a true reflection of the bowler's ability when the number of wickets they have taken is small, especially in comparison to the number of runs they have conceded.<ref name="PvS3">van Staden (2008), p. 3.</ref> In his paper proposing an alternative method of judging batsmen and bowlers, Paul van Staden gives an example of this:

<blockquote>Suppose a bowler has bowled a total of 80 balls, conceded 60 runs and has taken only 2 wickets so that.. [their average is] 30. If the bowler takes a wicket with the next ball bowled (no runs obviously conceded), then [their average is] 20.<ref name="PvS3"/></blockquote>

Due to this, when establishing records for bowling averages, qualification criteria are generally set. For [[Test cricket]], the ''[[Wisden Cricketers' Almanack]]'' sets this as 75 wickets,<ref name="WTest">{{cite book |editor-first=Scyld |editor-last=Berry |editor-link=Scyld Berry |title=[[Wisden Cricketers' Almanack|Wisden Cricketers' Almanack 2011]] |edition=148 |year=2011 |publisher=John Wisden & Co. Ltd |location=Alton, Hampshire |isbn=978-1-4081-3130-5|page=1358}}</ref> while [[ESPNcricinfo]] requires 2,000 [[Delivery (cricket)|deliveries]].<ref name="CITest">{{cite news|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283256.html |title=Records / Test matches / Bowling records / Best career bowling average |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=6 January 2013}}</ref> Similar restrictions are set for [[Limited overs cricket|one-day cricket]].<ref name="CIODI">{{cite news|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283257.html |title=Records / One-Day Internationals / Bowling records / Best career bowling average |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=6 January 2013}}</ref><ref name="CIT20I">{{cite news|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283258.html |title=Records / Twenty20 Internationals / Bowling records / Best career bowling average |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=6 January 2013}}</ref>

==Variations==
A number of factors other than purely the ability level of the bowler have an effect on a player's bowling average. Most significant among these are the different eras in which cricket has been played. The bowling average tables in Test and [[first-class cricket]] are headed by players who competed in the nineteenth century,<ref name="fc"/> a period when [[Cricket pitch|pitches]] were uncovered and some were so badly looked after that they had rocks on them. The bowlers competing in the [[Howa Bowl]], a competition played in South African during the apartheid-era, restricted to non-white players,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/content/player/44167.html |title=Player Profile: Vincent Barnes |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=6 January 2013}}</ref> during which time, according to [[Vincent Barnes]]: "Most of the wickets we played on were underprepared. For me, as a bowler, it was great."<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UguLotVEyu4C&pg=PA185 |title=The Blue Book: History of Western Province Cricket: 1890–2011 |last1=Odendaal |first1=Andre |last2=Reddy |first2=Krish |last3=Samson |first3=Andrew |year=2012 |publisher=Fanele |isbn=978-1-920196-40-0 |location=Johannesburg |page=185 |access-date=6 January 2013}}</ref> Other factors which provided an advantage to bowlers in that era was the lack of significant [[Cricket clothing and equipment|safety equipment]]; batting gloves and [[Helmet (cricket)|helmets]] were not worn, and batsmen had to be warier. Other variations are caused by frequent matches against stronger or weaker opposition, changes in the [[laws of cricket]] and the length of matches.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/international/england/8647320/Geoffrey-Boycott-ICCs-Dream-XI-is-a-joke-it-has-no-credibility.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/international/england/8647320/Geoffrey-Boycott-ICCs-Dream-XI-is-a-joke-it-has-no-credibility.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Geoffrey Boycott: ICC's Dream XI is a joke – it has no credibility |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |location=London |date=19 July 2011 |last=Boycott |first=Geoffrey |author-link=Geoffrey Boycott |access-date=6 January 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==Records==
{{Best Test career bowling averages}}
[[File:AN Hornby c1895.jpg|thumb|[[A. N. Hornby]] is one of three players to have a bowling average of zero in Test cricket.]]
Due to the varying qualifying restrictions placed on the records by different statisticians, the record for the lowest career bowling average can be different from publication to publication. 

===Test cricket===

In [[Test cricket]], [[George Lohmann]] is listed as having the superior average by each of the ''[[Wisden Cricketers' Almanack]]'', [[ESPNcricinfo]] and CricketArchive. Though all three use different restrictions, Lohmann's average of 10.75 is considered the best.<ref name="CATest"/><ref name="WTest"/><ref name="CITest"/> If no qualification criteria were applied at all, three players—[[Wilf Barber]], [[A. N. Hornby]] and [[Bruce Murray (cricketer)|Bruce Murray]]—would tie for the best average, all having claimed just one wicket in Test matches, without conceding any runs, thus averaging zero.<ref name="CITestn">{{cite news|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283903.html|title=Records / Test matches / Bowling records / Best career bowling average (without qualification) |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=6 January 2013}}</ref>

ESPNcricinfo list [[Betty Wilson]] as having the best [[Women's Test cricket]] average with 11.80,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283916.html |title=Records / Women's Test matches / Bowling records / Best career bowling average |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=6 January 2013}}</ref> while CricketArchive accept [[Mary Spear]]'s average of 5.78.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Records/Womens_Test/Overall/Bowling/Lowest_Career_Bowling_Average.html |title=Women's Test Lowest Career Bowling Average |website=CricketArchive |access-date=6 January 2013}}</ref> 

===One Day Internationals===

In [[One Day International]]s, the varying criteria set by ESPNcricinfo and CricketArchive result in same player being listed as holding the record. ESPNcricinfo has the stricter restriction, requiring 1,000 deliveries, where [[Sandeep Lamichhane]] is the record-holder, having claimed his wickets at an average of 18.59. CricketArchive has more relaxed requirement of 400 deliveries, where [[Ali Khan (American cricketer)|Ali Khan]] holds the record with an average of 16.42.<ref name="CIODI"/><ref name="CAODI">{{cite web |title=ODI Lowest Career Bowling Average |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Records/ODI/Overall/Bowling/Lowest_Career_Bowling_Average.html |access-date=6 January 2013 |website=CricketArchive}}</ref> 

In [[women's One Day International cricket]], [[Caroline Barrs]] tops the CricketArchive list with an average of 9.52,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Records/Womens_ODI/Overall/Bowling/Lowest_Career_Bowling_Average.html |title=Women's ODI Lowest Career Bowling Average |website=CricketArchive |access-date=6 January 2013}}</ref> but by ESPNcricinfo's stricter guidelines, the record is instead held by [[Gill Smith]]'s 12.53.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283915.html |title=Records / Women's One-Day Internationals / Bowling records / Best career bowling average |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=6 January 2013}}</ref>

===T20 Internationals===

The record is again split for the two websites for [[Twenty20 International]] cricket. In this situation ESPNcricinfo has the boundary of 500 balls to have been bowled, through which [[Alpesh Ramjani]] holds the record with an average of 9.29. But the 200 deliveries required by CricketArchive results in [[Andre Botha (cricketer)|Andre Botha]] being listed as the superior, averaging 8.76.<ref name="CIT20I"/><ref name="CAT20I">{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Records/International_Twenty20/Overall/Bowling/Lowest_Career_Bowling_Average.html |title=International Twenty20 Lowest Career Bowling Average |website=CricketArchive |access-date=6 January 2013}}</ref>

===First Class cricket===

Domestically, the records for [[first-class cricket]] are dominated by players from the nineteenth century, who make up sixteen of the top twenty by ESPNcricinfo's criteria of 5,000 deliveries. [[William Lillywhite]], who was active from 1825 to 1853 has the lowest average, claiming his 1,576 wickets at an average of just 1.54. The leading players from the twentieth century are [[Stephen Draai]] and [[Vincent Barnes]] with averages of just under twelve,<ref name="fc">{{cite news|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283259.html |title=Records / First-class matches / Bowling records / Best career bowling average |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=6 January 2013}}</ref> both of whom claimed the majority of their wickets in the South African [[Howa Bowl]] tournament during the apartheid era.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/137/137772/First-Class_Matches.html |title=First-Class Matches played by Stephen Draai (48) |website=CricketArchive |access-date=6 January 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/12/12921/First-Class_Matches.html |title=First-Class Matches played by Vince Barnes (68) |website=CricketArchive |access-date=6 January 2013}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Batting average (cricket)]]
* [[Strike rate]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book |url=http://web.up.ac.za/sitefiles/file/48/2059/Paul_J_van_Staden_Technical_Report_08-01.pdf |title=Comparison of bowlers, batsmen and all-rounders in cricket using graphical displays |publisher=[[University of Pretoria]], Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Department of Statistics |location=Pretoria |last=van Staden |first=Paul J. |date=January 2008 |access-date=6 January 2013 |isbn=978-1-86854-733-3 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701085144/http://web.up.ac.za/sitefiles/file/48/2059/paul_j_van_staden_technical_report_08-01.pdf |archive-date=1 July 2014 |df=dmy-all }}

{{Cricket statistics}}

[[Category:Bowling (cricket)]]
[[Category:Cricket terminology]]
[[Category:Cricket records and statistics]]