Economy Rate in Cricket

The average number of runs a bowler concedes per over — the core measure of bowling containment.

What is a Economy Rate?

Economy rate is calculated as total runs conceded divided by total overs bowled. In T20 cricket, an economy under 7 is considered strong; in Test cricket, economy is a secondary concern to taking wickets, so a bowler can have a high economy and still be effective if they're taking wickets regularly. Death-overs specialists are judged almost entirely on economy rate, since containing runs in the final overs matters more than anything else in their role.

In play

Bowler's figures after 4 overs: 0/38. Economy rate: 38/4 = 9.5. Captain pulls him from the attack immediately — an economy that high in the middle overs has handed the batting side control of the run rate.

More bowling terms

• Contrast SwingA form of swing that comes from surface roughness on the ball, not the seam's angle.
• MaidenAn over with no runs off the bat, wides, or no-balls. Also used for a player's first-ever milestone (maiden century, maiden call-up).
• DoosraAn off-spinner's delivery that turns the opposite way — away from a right-handed batter.
• GooglyA leg-spinner's delivery that turns the opposite way — into a right-handed batter instead of away.
• Carrom BallA delivery flicked off the bent middle finger, like a carrom board flick, that spins unpredictably.
• FlipperA leg-spinner's backspin delivery that skids on low and fast, trapping batters LBW.