Nearly all sports involve a lot of metrics and statistics. But cricket, in particular, involves a lot of it. One such metric to evaluate a player’s performance is the strike rate. A higher strike rate indicates a more aggressive batting, while a lower strike rate suggests a defensive approach.
Strike rate, in simple terms, measures the pace at which a batsman scores runs. But the strike rate is calculated in a bowling spell as well.
Batting strike rate
Batting strike rate is the run rate per 100 balls. It is a statistical measure used to assess a batter’s scoring proficiency. It represents the number of runs scored by a batsman per 100 balls faced. The fewer number of balls a batter takes to score runs; the higher will be his / her strike rate.
The calculation to measure strike rate is very simple. The total number of runs are divided by total balls faced, and then multiplied by 100.
For example, if a batter scores 50 runs off 40 balls, their strike rate would be (50/40) × 100 = 125.
Strike rate is more important in limited overs cricket as compared to Test cricket. In T20Is, especially, in which the batter has fewer balls to play, the batting strike rate is very important.
Best batting strike rate in T20 internationals
Suryakumar Yadav – 175.76
The India batsman has played 48 T20Is, scoring 1675 runs at an average of 46.52 and a strike rate of 175.76.
James Neesham – 161.41
James Neesham, who has so far played 67 matches for New Zealand, has an mediocre average of 21.61 but an impressive strike rate of 161.41.
Finn Allen – 160.41
Finn Allen of New Zealand has scored 616 runs in 28 T20Is, at an average and a strike rate of 22.00 and 160.41.
Rilee Rossouw – 159.79
South Africa’s Rilee Rossouw has scored 767 T20I runs at an average and strike rate of 34.86 and 159.79
Colin Munro – 156.44
Colin Munro of New Zealand has a strike rate of 156.44 from 65 T20Is.
Bowling strike rate
Bowling strike rate, on the other hand, is the number of balls the bowler has bowled before taking a wicket. It basically shows how quickly a bowler takes wickets. There’s also the bowling average, which implies the number of runs a bowler conceded before picking up a wicket. Bowling strike rate is more significant in Test cricket compared to the other two shorter formats. This is because the primary objective of bowlers in Test cricket is to secure wickets, while in a white-ball game, bowlers often prioritize economical bowling.
To calculate a player’s bowling economy, you need to divide the number of deliveries they have bowled in an innings by the number of wickets they have taken.
For example, if a bowler bowled 14 overs (84 balls), and took two wickets, his or her bowling strike rate will be 84 ÷ 2, i.e.42.
Best bowling strike rate in Test cricket
George Alfred Lohmann – 34.19
George Alfred Lohmann of England, who played from 1886 to 1896, finished his career with a bowling strike rate of 34.19.
Duanne Olivier – 35.38
Next best bowling strike rate in Tests belongs to South Africa’s Duanne Olivier, who had a strike rate of 35.38 from 15 Tests.
John James Ferris – 37.73
John James Ferris, who played for both Australia and England, had a strike rate of 37.73. Ferris, however, played only nine Tests.
Shane Bond – 38.75
New Zealand’s Shane Bond had a bowling strike rate of 38.75 from 18 Tests.
Kagiso Rabada – 39.70
South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada has a bowling strike rate of 39.70 from 60 Tests.
