Cricket · Bowling Average
Cricket Bowling Average Award
The cricket bowling average award goes to the bowler who conceded the fewest runs for each wicket they took. It is the natural partner to the batting award and, at most clubs, one of the two trophies every XI captain wants to hand out. We print it on glass in full colour, with the club badge at the top and the bowler's name and figures underneath.
A few ways to make it yours
The designer
Design yours
Upload your club crest, type up to four lines and see it on the glass.
Simple pricing
End of season award prices: £8.99 small · £13.99 large
Mix sizes and designs freely. One delivery charge per order.
Minimum 5 awards. Delivery £10.00 per order.
Cricket end of season awards: lower is better
A bowling average is runs conceded divided by wickets taken, so the best figure is the smallest one. A bowler with 30 wickets at 12 has had a better season than one with 30 wickets at 20, even though they took the same number.
That makes the qualification important. A part-time bowler who took three wickets for very few runs in one spell could otherwise top the table. Most clubs set a minimum number of wickets or overs to qualify, agreed before the first ball of the season.
Other bowling awards to consider
Some clubs pair the average with a most wickets award, which recognises the workhorse who bowled long spells every week. Others add best bowling figures, a one-off award for the season's best single performance, such as a seven-wicket haul in a league match.
Spinners and seamers sometimes get separate recognition at larger clubs, because the two roles are so different and the averages are not always comparable.
Captains can add context the numbers miss. A bowler who was thrown the ball at the death in every tight game, or who bowled into the wind all afternoon so others could attack from the better end, may have a slightly worse average and a far better season. Most clubs still give the average award strictly on the figures, but a captain's award or bowler of the year sitting beside it lets that work be recognised too.
Wording the figures
Bowling figures read well on the fourth line. For the average award, try 34 WICKETS AT 14.20. For best bowling, use the standard cricket notation, such as 7 FOR 23 or 7-23, followed by the opponent if it fits.
Put BOWLING AVERAGE on line one, the club name with the XI on line two, and the bowler's name on line three. The live mock-up shows how longer figures sit on the glass, so you can shorten if needed.
Ordering for every XI
A club with three Saturday sides, a Sunday team and a midweek side could need five bowling awards on their own. Small blocks at £8.99 suit these well. Design the first award, keep the same badge for the rest, and change the team, name and figures for each.
Order the batting and bowling awards together, and a club's full set of statistical awards will match on the night.
Good to know
Questions
What if the best average belongs to a part-time bowler?
That is what the qualification is for. If a bowler falls short of the minimum wickets or overs, the award goes to the next qualifying name. Agree the threshold before the season so it is not adjusted after the fact.
Can we give an award for a hat-trick?
Yes. HAT-TRICK works on line one, with the match details and the batters dismissed if you want them on line four. It makes a lovely one-off award alongside the averages.
Should juniors have bowling averages?
Older age groups sometimes do. In junior formats such as pairs cricket, where wickets cost runs rather than ending an innings, averages make less sense, so a best bowler award chosen by the coach is more common.
What is the minimum order?
The minimum is 5 awards, which can mix bowling, batting and other awards in any combination of sizes. Delivery is a flat £10.00 per order.
Keep exploring
Related awards
Club secretaries
Ordering for the whole club?
Finish one design, then reuse the same crest with a new name. Or paste a list of names and add every award in one go. Whatever the number of awards, there is one delivery charge per order.
Ordering for a club