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Bowling average is a statistic measuring the performance of bowlers in the sport of cricket.

A bowler's bowling average is defined as the total number of runs conceded by the bowlers divided by the number of wickets taken by the bowler, so the lower the average the better. It is similar to earned run average in baseball. For fast bowlers in Test cricket, most need to maintain an average of below about 35 to hold a place in the team. Acceptable averages for spin bowlers tend to be a little higher ranging between 35 and 40.

Career records for bowling average are usually subject to a qualification of a minimum number of balls bowled or wickets taken, to avoid including artificially high or low averages resulting from a career spanning only a few matches. Under the usual qualification of at least 2,000 balls bowled, George Lohmann has the lowest Test bowling average, with 112 wickets taken at an average of 10.75.^[1] Lohmann played in the late 19th century, when pitch conditions were far more favourable to bowlers than is currently the case. Only 11 other bowlers have averages below 20 on this basis.

In terms of assessing the effectiveness of a bowler, the average gives a useful but not a complete picture. Another useful statistic is the bowling strike rate - the mean number of balls bowled per wicket taken, indicating a bowler's wicket-taking potency.

Bowling averages in One Day Internationals are generally somewhat lower than in Test cricket because the batsmen need to score runs more quickly which makes it easier to get them out. In one-day cricket, the bowler's economy rate - mean runs conceded per six-ball over, indicating a bowler's control - is another informative statistic.

A bowler's strike rate and economy rate combine to form their bowling average (the average being equal to the economy rate divided by six, times the strike rate), meaning that the average gives a combined indication of a bowler's potency and control without offering precise detail on either.

Several factors need to be taken into account when using the bowling average as a gauge of a bowler's quality. Pitches were not covered before the First World War and were consequently less batsman-friendly, often turning prodigiously for slow bowlers and offering erratic bounce for seamers, leading to much lower (better) bowling averages. Cricket in South Africa was invariably played on bowler-friendly, artificially matted wickets before the Second World War, similarly leading to impressive averages. Slow bowlers who have bowled in the era since covered pitches tend generally to have higher (worse) averages than their seam-bowling counterparts: although they often have low (good) economy rates, covered pitches tend to be less responsive to spin than seam or swing or pace, leading to much higher (worse) strike rates.

References[link]

Mike Durbin (born May 3, 1941 in California) is a former American professional bowler. He became a member of the PBA in 1967, a year in which he won two tournaments and was named PBA Rookie of the Year by Sporting News. He would go on to win a record three Tournament of Champions titles (1972, 1982 and 1984)^[1] and 14 total PBA titles, amassing over $800,000 in career earnings. (The three Tournament of Champions titles total has since been matched by Jason Couch in 1999, 2000 and 2002.)

Durbin was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in 1984. He was ranked #22 on the PBA's 2008 list of "50 Greatest Players of the Last 50 Years."

During the 1983-84 season, Durbin served as the president of the PBA.

From the early 1980s to 1995, Durbin worked as a color analyst for ESPN alongside play-by-play man Dennis Schreiner. The two called tournaments in the summer and fall, along with senior tour events, while ABC Sports would cover the winter-spring events on the Pro Bowlers Tour, occasionally with Durbin alongside Chris Schenkel. Durbin would occasionally call the action himself with another analyst, such as Earl Anthony, if Schreiner was out on assignment. Durbin also worked as a commentator for USA Network's occasional bowling telecasts in the 1980s. In 1996, Marshall Holman became the new color analyst for ESPN's coverage, while Durbin took over play-by-play duties. Durbin retired from broadcasting in 1997.

Durbin co-authored with Dan Herbst a self-help bowling book called From Gutterballs to Strikes published in 1998. A long-time resident of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, Durbin lived in Boulder City, NV; Henderson, NV; and now lives in Roanoke, TX. Durbin and his wife Debra have three children, Mike Jr., Matthew, and Christine (mentioned by Chris Schenkel on a 26 January 1985 ABC telecast of the Pro Bowlers Tour, 1985 Quaker State, Mike Durbin vs. Mike Edwards). Durbin is a Christian.^[2]

Sources[link]

• www.pba.com, official site of the Professional Bowlers Association and the Denny's PBA Tour

1. ^ World Tournament of Champions History, at www.hickoksports.com
2. ^ "... and pass the ammunition". Sports Illustrated. 10 April 1972. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1085977/index.htm. Retrieved 2009-11-06.