Data Lab
Understand the numbers
Plain-English explainers on cricket analytics concepts. No jargon, no assumptions — just clarity.
What is Batting Average?
Batting average is total runs scored divided by the number of times dismissed. A Test average of 40+ is considered good; 50+ is exceptional.
ReadUnderstanding Bowling Economy
Bowling economy measures runs conceded per over bowled. In Test cricket, an economy under 3.0 is excellent.
ReadStrike Rate Explained — Batting and Bowling
Batting strike rate = runs per 100 balls faced. Bowling strike rate = balls bowled per wicket taken.
ReadThe DLS Method Demystified
The Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method adjusts targets in rain-interrupted limited-overs matches.
ReadWhat is Net Run Rate?
NRR is the difference between a team's scoring rate and the scoring rate against them. The tournament tiebreaker.
ReadRun Rate Per Over: Reading the Match's Rhythm
Plotting run rate over by over reveals a match's shape — the acceleration, the squeeze, the counterattack.
ReadWhat is Batting Average?
Batting average is calculated as: total runs scored ÷ number of dismissals. A batter who scores 500 runs and is dismissed 10 times has an average of 50.00. Crucially, not-out innings are excluded from the denominator — which means a batter who is frequently not out (such as a lower-order player) can have an inflated average. In Test cricket, an average above 40 is considered strong, above 50 is world-class, and above 60 places a player among the all-time greats. Don Bradman's average of 99.94 remains the statistical outlier against which all batting is measured.
Understanding Bowling Economy
Bowling economy is calculated as: total runs conceded ÷ total overs bowled. It tells you how expensive a bowler is per over, regardless of whether they take wickets. In Test cricket, an economy under 3.0 is excellent — it means the bowler concedes fewer than 18 runs per hour. In ODIs, under 5.0 is strong. In T20I, under 7.5 is competitive. Economy is a containment metric, not a wicket-taking metric. A bowler can have excellent economy but poor strike rate (rarely takes wickets) or vice versa. The best bowlers excel at both.
Strike Rate Explained — Batting and Bowling
Batting strike rate = (runs scored ÷ balls faced) × 100. A strike rate of 80 means 80 runs per 100 balls. In Test cricket, 50–60 is normal; in T20I, 130+ is expected. Bowling strike rate = balls bowled ÷ wickets taken. A bowling strike rate of 50 means one wicket every 50 balls (roughly 8 overs). Under 50 in Tests is outstanding. These two metrics measure tempo from opposite ends: batting strike rate tells you how fast a batter scores; bowling strike rate tells you how frequently a bowler breaks through.
The DLS Method Demystified
When rain interrupts a limited-overs match, the team batting second may face fewer overs than the team batting first. Simply scaling the target (e.g., halving it for half the overs) is unfair because early overs with all 10 wickets in hand are more valuable than later overs. The DLS method uses a resource table that assigns a percentage value to each combination of overs remaining and wickets lost. When overs are lost, the target is adjusted based on the resources available to each team. For example: if Team A scores 250 in 50 overs and Team B loses 10 overs to rain, the par score is not 200 — it is typically around 185–190, because the lost overs are the least valuable ones (at the end, with fewer wickets).
What is Net Run Rate?
Net Run Rate (NRR) = (total runs scored ÷ total overs faced) − (total runs conceded ÷ total overs bowled), calculated across all group-stage matches. A positive NRR means you score faster than your opponents score against you. NRR is the primary tiebreaker in ICC tournaments. This is why a heavy win (beating a team by 100 runs) can matter more than a narrow one — it boosts your run-rate differential. Teams occasionally accelerate at the end of dead matches specifically to improve NRR.
Run Rate Per Over: Reading the Match's Rhythm
An over-by-over run rate graph is the heartbeat of a cricket match. You can see the cautious opening overs (run rate 2–3), the acceleration through the middle overs (4–5), and the death-overs surge (8–12 in T20). In Test cricket, the graph reveals different patterns: the steady accumulation before a declaration, the squeeze of a tight new-ball spell, or the counterattack after a collapse. Learning to read these graphs turns raw numbers into narrative — you can see the moment a match shifted without reading a single word of commentary.
Why cricket data matters
Cricket is the most documented sport in the world. From the first recorded scorecard in 1744 to the ball-by-ball data captured by Hawk-Eye today, every delivery is a data point. Every over is a story.
Understanding metrics like batting average, bowling economy, and strike rate does not require a statistics degree. The concepts are intuitive once explained. By making these tools accessible, Throsmex aims to enrich how every fan experiences cricket.
A batting average is a biography in one number. A bowling economy tells you who controls the game. A strike rate reveals tempo. Together, they paint a picture that goes far beyond the scorecard.