Batting average is the most fundamental and most cited statistic in cricket. It measures the average number of runs a batter scores per dismissal — calculated as total runs divided by the number of times dismissed. A batting average of 50 means the batter scores 50 runs every time they get out.

The key nuance that makes batting average different from a simple per-innings mean is the not-out adjustment. If a batter scores 100 runs over 4 innings but is not out twice, their dismissals are only 2 — giving them an average of 50, not 25. This reflects the reality that those innings were not concluded and rewards batters who protect their wicket.

Batting average is format-specific. In Test cricket, an average of 50+ is elite-level — placing a batter among the all-time greats. In T20s, the format is so short that an average of 35+ is considered outstanding. Use the format selector to benchmark correctly.