Bowling Economy Calculator

The Bowling Economy Calculator works out a cricket bowler's three defining numbers — economy rate, bowling average, and bowling strike rate — from your overs, runs conceded, and wickets. It handles cricket's base-6 over notation correctly (so 10.3 overs is read as 10 overs and 3 balls, not 10.3 decimal overs), recalibrates every benchmark for Test, ODI, or T20 cricket, and plots your bowling archetype on an Economy × Strike Rate quadrant.

What is Economy Rate in Cricket?

Economy rate is the average number of runs a bowler concedes per over. It is the single most-quoted measure of a bowler's containment — how well they stop the batters from scoring. A lower economy rate is better. Because an over is six legal deliveries, economy is calculated from the number of balls bowled, not the raw decimal in the scorecard.

Bowling Economy Formula

Economy rate divides runs conceded by overs bowled. The only subtlety is converting the overs to a true decimal first, because cricket overs are counted in sixes.

For example, 45 runs conceded off 10.3 overs is 45 runs off 63 balls, giving an economy of \( \frac{45 \times 6}{63} = 4.29 \) runs per over.

Bowling Average and Strike Rate

Where economy measures containment, bowling average and bowling strike rate measure wicket-taking. Both are "lower is better".

Bowling average tells you how many runs each wicket costs, while strike rate tells you how many balls you bowl between wickets. If no wicket has fallen, both are undefined — there is no per-wicket figure yet.

What is a Good Economy Rate by Format?

An economy of 4.5 is elite in a T20 but poor in a Test match, so benchmarks have to be read against the format. The table below shows the rough guidelines this calculator uses.

The Economy × Strike Rate Quadrant

A bowler's economy and strike rate together tell a richer story than either alone. Plotting containment (economy) against penetration (strike rate) reveals four archetypes:

• 🏆 Complete Match-Winner — low economy and low strike rate. You keep it tight and take wickets regularly. The rarest and most valuable profile.
• 🛡️ Containment Specialist — low economy but a higher strike rate. The stock bowler who ties an end down and builds pressure while others attack.
• ⚡ Attacking Wicket-Taker — a low strike rate but a higher economy. A genuine strike bowler who buys wickets, even if it costs a few runs.
• 🌱 Under Pressure — higher economy and higher strike rate. Runs are flowing without regular wickets; tighter lines and lengths lift both numbers.

Economy vs Batting Strike Rate

Do not confuse bowling strike rate with batting strike rate — they measure opposite things. Batting strike rate is runs scored per 100 balls faced, where higher is better. Bowling strike rate is the number of balls bowled per wicket, where lower is better. A bowling strike rate of 18 means a wicket every 18 balls (three overs).

What Affects a Bowler's Economy?

How to Use This Calculator

1. Choose the format: Select Test, ODI, or T20 so the benchmarks, gauge, and quadrant match the game you played.
2. Enter your figures: Type the overs bowled (e.g. 10.3 for 10 overs and 3 balls), runs conceded, wickets taken, and optionally maiden overs.
3. Click Calculate: The tool computes your economy rate, bowling average, and strike rate instantly.
4. Review your results: See your economy on the visual gauge, your archetype on the Economy × Strike Rate quadrant, your classic O-M-R-W figures, a spell projection, and a full step-by-step breakdown.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is bowling economy rate in cricket?

Economy rate is the average number of runs a bowler concedes per over. It is calculated as runs conceded divided by overs bowled. A lower economy rate is better because it means the bowler is giving away fewer runs. For example, 30 runs in 5 overs is an economy rate of 6.00.

How do you calculate economy rate from balls?

Convert the overs to balls first, because cricket overs use base-6 notation. 10.3 overs means 10 completed overs plus 3 balls, which is 63 balls. Economy rate equals runs conceded × 6 divided by the number of balls bowled. So 45 runs off 63 balls is 45 × 6 ÷ 63, which is 4.29.

What is the difference between economy, average, and strike rate?

Economy rate measures runs conceded per over (containment). Bowling average measures runs conceded per wicket (how costly each wicket is). Bowling strike rate measures balls bowled per wicket (how often you take wickets). A great bowler keeps all three low: economy for tightness, average and strike rate for wicket-taking.

What is a good economy rate in cricket?

It depends on the format. In Test cricket an economy under about 3.0 is very good. In ODIs, under about 5.0 is strong and around 6.0 is par. In T20s, under about 7.5 is very good and around 9.0 is par. This calculator recalibrates the benchmarks automatically for the format you choose.

How is bowling strike rate different from batting strike rate?

They are opposite measures. Batting strike rate is runs scored per 100 balls faced, and higher is better. Bowling strike rate is the number of balls bowled per wicket taken, and lower is better because it means wickets fall more often.

What does O-M-R-W mean in bowling figures?

O-M-R-W is the standard cricket way of writing a bowler's figures: Overs bowled, Maidens (overs with no runs conceded), Runs conceded, and Wickets taken. For example, 10-2-45-3 means 10 overs, 2 maidens, 45 runs, and 3 wickets.

Additional Resources

• Economy Rate - Wikipedia
• Bowling Average - Wikipedia
• Bowling Strike Rate - Wikipedia