Why is the average not runs divided by innings?

Because not-outs would lower it unfairly. The average divides by dismissals instead.

Glossary

Batting average

Runs scored divided by times dismissed. Not runs divided by innings if not-outs matter.

Photo: ANBARASU THIRAVIYAM, CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗

The batting average is total runs divided by the number of times the batter was dismissed. Innings where the batter was not out do not count as dismissals, which is why an average can be high even when the scores are mixed.

Compare averages only with the same number of matches in view.

Match questions

Questions scorers actually ask

01 Why is the average not runs divided by innings?: Because not-outs would lower it unfairly. The average divides by dismissals instead.
02 Does a not-out count as a dismissal?: No.

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