We have usually heard Bowling Average while discussing cricket, but not all understand it. Bowling average is the rate of the number of runs given by the bowler divided by the aggregate of wickets. The less the bowling average, the greater the bowler is. It is frequently used besides the economy and strike rate and is a notable statistic that reveals the bowler’s ability. The article below discusses the top 10 bowling averages from New Zealand in Test Cricket (min 30 wickets).
1. J Cowie
John Cowie was a right-arm fast-medium pacer in the New Zealand cricket team. Nicknamed the Bully, the player made his test debut in 1937 against England, and his last test game was in 1949, against the same rival team-England. He took 45 wickets in 9 matches with a bowling average of 21.53 and an economy of 2.86. The bowler took four five-wicket hauls and one ten-wicket haul.
2. SE Bond
Shane Edward Bond is a former right-arm fast bowler of the New Zealand cricket team and made his test appearance against Australia at Hobart in 2001. In his last test game, he stood facing Pakistan in 2009. He took 87 wickets in eighteen test matches with a bowling average of 38.7 and an economy of 3.41. Bond has taken five five-wicket hauls and one ten-wicket haul.
3. Sir RJ Hadlee
Richard John Hadlee is a former right-arm fast bowler and left-hand batter of the New Zealand cricket team. He made his test appearance in 1973 against Pakistan and is the first player to reach 400 test wickets. His last game was against England at Birmingham in 1990. Hadlee has bowled in 86 matches and has taken 431 wickets with a bowling average of 22.29. His economy is 2.63, and he has taken thirty-six five-wicket hauls and nine ten-wicket hauls.
4. N Wagner
Neil Wagner is a left-arm medium-fast bowler in the New Zealand cricket team who played his first test game against West Indies in 2012. He has taken 229 wickets in 54 test matches with a bowling average of 26.40 and an economy of 3.02. Wagner has taken nine five-wicket hauls.
5. BR Taylor
Bruce Richard Taylor was a right-arm fast-medium pacer and left-hand batter in the New Zealand cricket team. The player was an allrounder and could turn the ball both ways. He played his first test game facing India in 1965, and his last test match was against England in 1973. He took 111 wickets in 30 games with a bowling average of 26.60 and an economy of 2.79. The bowler has taken four five-wickets hauls.
6. TA Boult
Trent Alexandar Boult is a left-arm fast-medium bowler of the New Zealand team who made his test appearance in 2011 against Australia at Hobart. He took 292 wickets in 73 matches with a bowling average of 27.67 and an economy of 2.97. Boult has taken eight five-wicket hauls and one ten-wicket haul.
7. TG Southee
Timothy Grant Southee is a right-arm medium-fast bowler in the New Zealand cricket team and played his first test match against England at Napier in 2008 and has bowled in 79 test matches. Southee has taken 314 wickets with a bowling average of 28.22 and an economy of 2.97. The New Zealand bowler has taken twelve five-wicket hauls and one ten-wicket haul.
8. DJ Nash
Dion Joseph Nash is a retired right-arm fast-medium bowler of the New Zealand cricket team. He made his test appearance against Zimbabwe at Harare in 1992, and his last test game was versus Australia at Brisbane in 2001. He took 93 wickets in 32 matches with a bowling average of 28.48 and an economy of 2.56. Nash has taken three five-wicket hauls and one ten-wicket haul in his Test career.
9. RO Collinge
Richard Owen Collinge is a former left-arm medium-fast bowler of the New Zealand cricket team. He made his test appearance against Pakistan at Wellington in 1965, and his last test match was against England in 1978. Collinge has bowled in 35 games and took 116 wickets with a bowling average of 29.25 and an economy of 2.64. He took three five-wicket hauls in his Test career.
10. SB Doull
Simon Blair Doull is a former right-arm medium pacer of the New Zealand cricket team who made his test debut in 1992 against Zimbabwe, and his last test match was opposite Australia in 2000. He took 98 wickets in 32 test games with a bowling average of 29.30 and an economy of 2.84. Doull has taken six five-wicket hauls in his Test career.