Who is the better batter? It is cricket's favourite argument, and numbers can at least make it a fair one. This calculator puts two batters side by side using exactly the same formulas: batting average, strike rate and runs per innings. Enter each player's runs, innings, not-outs and balls faced for any period, and the summary shows who leads each measure and by how much.
How to use the player comparison calculator
- Enter Player A's runs, innings, not-outs and balls faced.
- Enter the same four numbers for Player B.
- Read the summary line, which shows the leader in average and strike rate, then the detailed numbers for both players.
The default numbers for Player A are Virat Kohli's 2016 IPL season: 973 runs in 16 innings with 4 not-outs, at a strike rate of 152.03. Change Player B to anyone you want to compare against.
The formulas
Average = Runs ÷ (Innings − Not outs)
Strike rate = Runs ÷ Balls faced × 100
Runs per innings = Runs ÷ Innings
Using three measures instead of one prevents a misleading picture. A middle-order batter who is often not out may have a high average but modest runs per innings, while an opener may have a lower average but score many more runs every time they bat.
Worked example
Anchor versus aggressor in a T20 season
- Player A
- 610 runs, 14 inns, 3 NO, 470 balls → avg 55.45, SR 129.79
- Player B
- 520 runs, 14 inns, 1 NO, 315 balls → avg 40.00, SR 165.08
- Summary
- A leads average by 15.45; B leads strike rate by 35.29
Neither batter is simply "better". Player A gives reliability; Player B gives speed. The team's needs decide who is more valuable.
How to compare players fairly
- Same format. Never compare a Test average with a T20 average. The game is too different.
- Similar period. Scoring rates have changed hugely, especially in white-ball cricket. A strike rate of 75 in ODIs in the 1990s was good; today it is below par for a top-order batter.
- Similar role. Openers face the new ball, middle-order batters face spin, and finishers bat in the slog overs. Their numbers reflect their jobs.
- Enough data. A comparison of two players with five innings each is mostly noise.
- Conditions and opposition. Runs scored on tough pitches or against top attacks are worth more than the raw numbers suggest.
Comparing bowlers
This calculator focuses on batting, but the same principles apply to bowlers. Compare bowling average (runs per wicket), economy rate (runs per over) and bowling strike rate (balls per wicket) together. A strike bowler may have a high economy but a low strike rate, while a holding bowler may rarely take wickets but keep the run rate down. In T20s, the holding bowler can be just as valuable, because dot balls create pressure that leads to wickets at the other end.
When comparing an all-rounder with a specialist, judge each skill against specialists in that skill. An all-rounder who averages 30 with the bat and 30 with the ball may not be in the top six of either list, but can still be the most valuable player in a balanced XI.
Beyond average and strike rate
For a fuller picture, look at boundary percentage, dot ball percentage, conversion of fifties into hundreds, and performance in wins. Our player performance calculator works out boundary share and bowling numbers too, so you can compare all-rounders properly.
Compare real players on CricketSky
To compare current players with up-to-date career numbers, use CricketSky's compare players tool, which pulls stats across formats for any two players. Then bring the numbers here to test scenarios, such as how a big series would change a player's average, or how two players compare over a specific season.
For a ranking view, the ICC batting rankings weigh performances by match situation and opposition strength, which raw averages cannot do.
Common mistakes
- Mixing formats in one comparison.
- Leaving out not-outs, which inflates the dismissal count and lowers the average.
- Judging on one number. Average and strike rate work best together.
