Last updated: 3 October 2026
Reviewed by Jordan Morley, FA Level 2 Football Coach
Economy rate = total runs conceded ÷ overs bowled. In T20 international cricket, economy rates under 7.0 rpo are excellent; 7-8 is good; above 9 is expensive. In ODIs, 4-5 rpo was once considered good; modern ODI average economy rates are 5-6 rpo. Economy rate measures control and the ability to restrict scoring — crucial in T20 where every dot ball has high value. A bowler can have a high economy but a poor average (takes wickets expensively) or low economy with a poor strike rate (cheap but not penetrative).
- Runs ÷ overs bowled
- T20: under 7 = excellent; above 9 = expensive
- Different standards for T20 vs ODI vs Test
- Measures control, not wicket-taking ability
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An economy rate under 6 runs per over is considered strong in modern T20 cricket, while rates creeping toward 9-10 suggest a bowler is being targeted — captains closely track economy rate when deciding bowling changes during the tight, high-scoring phases of a limited-overs innings.
FAQ
What's a good economy rate in T20 cricket?
Under 7 runs per over is generally considered good in T20, with elite bowlers in form sometimes maintaining economy rates below 6.
Does economy rate matter in Test cricket?
Less so — Test cricket prioritises taking wickets over containing runs, so economy rate is a secondary metric compared to strike rate and overall wicket-taking ability in the longer format.