Bowling analysis

In the sport of cricket, a bowling analysis (sometimes shortened to just analysis, especially in the phrase innings analysis) usually refers to a notation summarising a bowler's performance in terms of overs bowled, how many of those overs are "maidens" (ie with no runs conceded), total runs conceded and number of wickets taken. Bowling analyses are generally given for each innings in cricket scoreboards printed in "Wisden Cricketers' Almanack", newspapers and so on, but they are also sometimes quoted for other periods of time, such as a single spell of bowling. For example, an innings analysis of 9.4-1-31-2 would indicate that the bowler had bowled nine overs and four balls, of which one was a maiden, and that he had taken two wickets for a total cost of 31 runs.

In some cases, maidens are omitted from bowling figures, and are recorded showing 'Wickets/Runs (Overs)'; for example, 7/15 (7) by Glenn McGrath against Namibia shows he took his 7 wickets for 15 runs in 7 overs.