How to Read Bowling Figures: Overs, Maidens, Runs and Wickets

Bowling figures look like a code to new fans: 10-2-38-3, 4-0-24-2, 22.4-6-61-5. Once you know the order, each set of numbers tells a quick story about how a bowler performed. Add three simple ratios, economy rate, average and strike rate, and you can compare bowlers across matches and formats. This guide explains how to read the figures and what each number really tells you.

The four numbers in order

Standard bowling figures are written as overs, maidens, runs and wickets, usually separated by dashes. So 10-2-38-3 means the bowler bowled 10 overs, of which 2 were maidens, conceded 38 runs and took 3 wickets.

• Overs (O): the number of six-ball overs bowled. A partial over is written after a dot, so 7.3 means seven overs and three balls.
• Maidens (M): overs in which the bowler conceded no runs that count against them.
• Runs (R): runs conceded by the bowler, including wides and no balls, but not byes or leg byes.
• Wickets (W): dismissals credited to the bowler. Run outs are not included.

Which runs count against the bowler

Runs scored off the bat count against the bowler. So do wides and no balls, because they are the bowler’s fault. Byes and leg byes do not, because they are counted as fielding extras. This is why a bowler can bowl a maiden even if byes were scored in that over.

Which wickets the bowler gets

Bowled, caught, leg before wicket, stumped and hit wicket are credited to the bowler. Run outs, timed out, obstructing the field and hitting the ball twice are not. That is why a bowler’s wicket column can be lower than the number of wickets that fell while they were bowling.

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Economy rate

Economy rate is runs conceded per over. Divide runs by overs. With figures of 10-2-38-3, the economy rate is 38 divided by 10, which is 3.80. When overs include balls, convert them first: 7.3 overs is 7.5 overs in decimal form, because three balls are half an over.

Economy matters most in limited-overs cricket. In a T20, an economy around 7 or 8 is often good, while in a one-day international, around 5 is solid. In Tests, economy is less important than taking wickets.

Bowling average

Bowling average is runs conceded per wicket. Divide total runs by total wickets. A bowler who has conceded 300 runs for 12 wickets has an average of 25. Lower is better. Averages are most meaningful over many matches rather than one game.

Strike rate

A bowler’s strike rate is balls bowled per wicket. Multiply overs by six to get balls, then divide by wickets. In Test cricket, a strike rate in the 50s or 60s is generally strong. In T20 cricket, strike rates are much lower because each bowler bowls only a few overs, so comparisons should stay within one format.

Putting it together: an example

Two bowlers finish an ODI with 10-0-45-3 and 10-1-38-0. The first conceded more runs but took three wickets. The second was cheaper but took none. Which was better depends on the match. If the opposition was cruising, the first bowler’s wickets probably changed the game. If the team was defending a low total, the second bowler’s control may have mattered just as much. Figures start the conversation; context finishes it.

Common mistakes

• Treating 7.3 overs as 7.3 in calculations instead of 7.5.
• Comparing T20 economy rates with Test economy rates.
• Judging a bowler on one match rather than a series or season.
• Forgetting that byes and leg byes are not the bowler’s runs.

Key points to remember

• Figures read as overs, maidens, runs and wickets.
• Wides and no balls count against the bowler; byes and leg byes do not.
• Economy is runs per over, average is runs per wicket and strike rate is balls per wicket.
• Always compare within the same format and add match context.

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