Maths in cricket: batting averages

Quick answer

Maths in cricket: batting averages help us find out how many runs a batsman usually scores in each innings. We add up all their runs and divide by the number of times they've batted.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will understand how to calculate a batting average and why it helps us compare how well different batsmen play.

• You can add up a list of numbers
• You can divide a total by a number of innings
• You can explain what a batting average means in cricket
• You can compare two or more batting averages

Why this matters

Cricket is a game where batsmen score runs, and fans love to know who is the best. A batting average tells us how many runs a player usually scores. It helps coaches and fans understand how good a player is.

Even in your everyday life, you use averages. For example, if you want to know how much pocket money you get on average each week, or how many points you usually score in a game, you are working with averages!

How it works

Calculating a batting average is simple:

1. First, find out how many runs the batsman scored in each innings.
2. Add all those runs together.
3. Count how many times the batsman batted (this is called "innings").
4. Divide the total runs by the number of innings.

Let’s look at an example to make it clearer.

Examples you can see

Imagine your friend Tom is a cricket player. He played 5 innings and scored the following runs:

• Innings 1: 25 runs
• Innings 2: 30 runs
• Innings 3: 10 runs
• Innings 4: 40 runs
• Innings 5: 20 runs

First, we add all his runs together:

25 + 30 + 10 + 40 + 20 = 125 runs

Next, we count how many innings he played. He played 5 innings.

Now we divide the total runs by the number of innings:

125 ÷ 5 = 25

So Tom’s batting average is 25. That means, on average, he scored 25 runs in each innings.

Try it as a mini adventure

Let’s go on a cricket adventure!

You are a coach and you want to find out which of your two players is better. You have their scores from 4 innings:

Player A:

• Innings 1: 15 runs
• Innings 2: 20 runs
• Innings 3: 25 runs
• Innings 4: 10 runs

Player B:

• Innings 1: 30 runs
• Innings 2: 20 runs
• Innings 3: 25 runs
• Innings 4: 35 runs

Can you calculate each player’s batting average? Who is the better player?

Player A’s total runs: 15 + 20 + 25 + 10 = 70

Player A’s average: 70 ÷ 4 = 17.5

Player B’s total runs: 30 + 20 + 25 + 35 = 110

Player B’s average: 110 ÷ 4 = 27.5

Player B is better because his average (27.5) is higher than Player A’s (17.5).

Common mistakes

• Mistake: Forgetting to add all the runs together before dividing.
  Why it happens: Kids might divide one number by the number of innings without adding them first.
  Fix: Always add all the runs first, then divide.
• Mistake: Counting innings incorrectly.
  Why it happens: If a player is out and doesn’t bat again, that still counts as one innings.
  Fix: Count each time a player bats, even if they don’t score.
• Mistake: Thinking the average must be a whole number.
  Why it happens: Children may feel the average must be a whole number like 10 or 20.
  Fix: Averages can be decimals like 17.5 or 22.3.

Parent and carer guide

As a parent or carer, you can help by:

• Practising with real scores from a cricket match or even a game at home.
• Using a calculator to check answers if you're unsure.
• Encouraging your child to explain how they worked out the average.
• Playing a fun game: give your child a list of numbers and ask them to find the average.
• Remembering that averages can be decimals – this is normal and not a mistake!

Don’t worry if your child makes a mistake. It's part of learning. The key is to talk through what went wrong and how to fix it.

Practice questions

1. Player X scored 30, 40, 20, and 50 runs in 4 innings. What is their average?
2. Player Y scored 15, 25, 35, and 25 runs in 4 innings. What is their average?
3. Player Z scored 5, 10, 15, and 20 runs in 4 innings. What is their average?
4. Who has the highest average among X, Y, and Z?
5. Player W scored 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 runs in 5 innings. What is their average?

Answers:

1. 30 + 40 + 20 + 50 = 140, 140 ÷ 4 = 35
2. 15 + 25 + 35 + 25 = 100, 100 ÷ 4 = 25
3. 5 + 10 + 15 + 20 = 50, 50 ÷ 4 = 12.5
4. Player X has the highest average (35)
5. 10 + 20 + 30 + 40 + 50 = 150, 150 ÷ 5 = 30

FAQ

What is a batting average in cricket?

A batting average shows how many runs a batsman scores on average in each innings. It’s calculated by dividing the total runs by the number of times they’ve batted.

Why do we use averages in cricket?

Averages help us compare players and see who is more consistent. A high average means the player usually scores a lot of runs.

Can a batting average be a decimal?

Yes! A batting average can be a decimal like 25.5 or 17.3. It just means the player scored a little more or less than a whole number on average.

How is a batting average different from total runs?

Total runs show how many runs a player scored altogether. A batting average shows how many runs they scored on average each time they played.

Can a player have a batting average of zero?

If a player has never scored any runs in their innings, their average would be zero. But this is rare in real cricket.