Bowling average is a statistic measuring the performance of bowlers in the sport of cricket. A statistic (singular is the result of applying a function (statistical Algorithm) to a set of data. Muralijpg|thumb|250px|right|The world's leading off-spin bowler Muttiah Muralitharan sends down a delivery]] A bowler in the Sport of Cricket is usually Sport is an Activity that is governed by a set of rules or Customs and often engaged in competitively Cricket is a bat-and-ball team Sport that originated in England and is now played in more than 100 countries
A bowler's bowling average is defined as the total number of runs conceded by the bowler divided by the number of wickets taken by the bowler, so the lower the average the better. the Sport of Cricket, a run is the basic unit of scoring. Runs are scored by a Batsman, and the aggregate of the scores of a team's batsmen (plus In the sport of Cricket the word wicket has several distinct meanings Meanings of wicket Set of stumps Primarily the wicket For fast bowlers in Test cricket, most need to maintain an average of below about 35 to hold a place in the team. Fast bowling, sometimes known as pace bowling, is one of the two main approaches to bowling in the Sport of Cricket. Test cricket is the longest form of the Sport of Cricket. It has long been considered the ultimate test of playing ability between cricketing nations Bowlers who maintain an average of below about 25 over a long career are exceptional. The very best in the modern game have averages just over 20. Acceptable averages for spin bowlers tend to be a little higher ranging between 25 and 40. Spin bowling, sometimes known as slow bowling, is a technique used for bowling in the Sport of Cricket.
Career records for bowling average are usually subject to a qualification of a minimum number of balls bowled or wickets taken, to avoid including artificially high or low averages resulting from a career spanning only a few matches. Under the usual qualification of at least 2,000 balls bowled, George Lohmann has the lowest Test bowling average, with 112 wickets taken at an average of 10. George Lohmann (June 2 1865 in London – December 1 1901 in Worcester Western Cape, South Africa) is regarded as one the greatest bowlers 75 [1]. It should be noted that Lohmann played in the late 19th century, when pitch conditions were far more favourable to bowlers than is currently the case. Only 11 other bowlers have averages below 20 on this basis.
In terms of assessing the effectiveness of a bowler, the average gives a useful but not a complete picture. Another useful statistic is the bowling strike rate - the mean number of balls bowled per wicket taken, indicating a bowler's wicket-taking potency. Strike rate refers to two different statistics in the Sport of Cricket.
Bowling averages in One Day Internationals are generally somewhat lower than in Test cricket because the batsmen need to score runs more quickly which makes it easier to get them out. Note Most of the information here pertains to men's cricket ODI matches are also played in Women's cricket. In one-day cricket, the bowler's economy rate - mean runs conceded per six-ball over, indicating a bowler's control - is another informative statistic. Cricket is a Sport that generates a large number of Statistics.
A bowler's strike rate and economy rate combine to form their bowling average (the average being equal to the economy rate divided by six, times the strike rate), meaning that the average gives a combined indication of a bowler's potency and control without offering precise detail on either.
Several factors need to be taken into account when using the bowling average as a gauge of a bowler's quality. Pitches were not covered before the First World War and were consequently less batsman-friendly, often turning prodigiously for slow bowlers and offering erratic bounce for seamers, leading to much lower (better) bowling averages. Spin bowling, sometimes known as slow bowling, is a technique used for bowling in the Sport of Cricket. Fast bowling, sometimes known as pace bowling, is one of the two main approaches to bowling in the Sport of Cricket. Cricket in South Africa was invariably played on bowler-friendly, artificially matted wickets before the Second World War, similarly leading to impressive averages. Slow bowlers who have bowled in the era since covered pitches tend generally to have higher (worse) averages than their seam-bowling counterparts: although they often have low (good) economy rates, covered pitches tend to be less responsive to spin than seam or swing or pace, leading to much higher (worse) strike rates. Spin bowling, sometimes known as slow bowling, is a technique used for bowling in the Sport of Cricket. Fast bowling, sometimes known as pace bowling, is one of the two main approaches to bowling in the Sport of Cricket.