The rules of cricket can be extremely confusing for those unfamiliar with the sport. However, by understanding the terms little by little, you will see that it is actually a very simple sport to understand. Knowing what does over mean in cricket is important for fans, spectators, and even sports bettors, as cricket is extremely popular and therefore many lucrative betting markets are available at bookmakers such as 1xBet.

Here, we will cover one of the simplest and most important terms in cricket: the over. The number of overs defines the length of the match and is therefore the main difference between the three main types of cricket: T20, ODI, and Test Matches. In addition to talking about overs, we will also discuss how they apply to each of the formats, explaining which countries can compete in a Cup of each of these types of matches.

What does over mean in cricket?

Overs in cricket are a set of balls thrown by the bowler that define one of the phases that each team has during the match. Each inning has a set number of overs according to the style of play, T20, ODI, or Test matches.

Throughout the history of cricket, overs have undergone several changes in the number of balls bowled, varying between 4 and 8 during the evolution of the sport. Now, the International Cricket Council has defined the standards that we will discuss now.

How many balls are in one over?

The cricket over meaning is a set of 6 balls bowled by the bowler. After each over, the bowler is replaced by the next bowler on the team, in an order that the coaches and captains define.

Teams usually put their best bowlers at the beginning of the innings, as the other team will also have their best batsmen. The batsman can be eliminated during an over. Therefore, during the 6 balls, the same bowler will always make the bowls, but not necessarily defended by the same batsman.

It is worth remembering that an over consists of 6 legal balls. Therefore, there may be many more bowls within an over, as if the bowler throws an illegal ball, the bowl is repeated. 

Types of Overs in Cricket

During an over, several things can happen. A successful over will concede no or few runs to the opposing team. In a bad over, the opposing team will gain many runs. It is worth remembering that a run is scored each time the two batsmen run from one end to the other to the area where the wickets are.

The perfect over is known as a Maiden Over. This occurs when the bowler makes 6 perfect bowls during the over, without conceding any runs to the opposing team. This is more common when a great bowler faces a batsman who is not as skilled.

At bookmakers, for example, it may even be possible to bet on the number of maiden overs in a match, especially in more important games between big teams. This is actually a good tip for a specific market to take advantage of once you have acquired advanced knowledge of cricket.

More than the quality of the bowls, communication between teammates is essential to achieving a maiden over. This involves the positioning of the field players, the defensive structure, and the orders given by the captain to the bowler.

Number of overs in each cricket format

There are three formats of international cricket: Test Matches, ODIs, and T20s. Here are the main differences:

• Test Matches: These matches are played between the biggest cricket countries and have no limit on overs. This means that the innings only ends when all the batsmen on one team have been dismissed. These matches usually last between 4 and 5 days, attracting huge audiences among fans of the sport.

• ODI: This is the acronym for One Day International, and as the name implies, these are matches played over the course of a day, usually lasting 8 hours. In this case, each team plays 50 overs.

• T20: T20 is the most accessible and fastest format of cricket, and matches usually last around 3 hours. In each innings, the team plays only 20 overs, which ensures a dynamic format. As such, it is ideal for those who have never followed cricket and want to start understanding the sport more easily.

Test Matches are the most important and attractive in world cricket. For this reason, only countries that are full members of the International Cricket Council can compete in these matches. They are: India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Ireland, England, Australia, New Zealand, and the West Indies.

Because they are long and have no over limits, Test Matches are by far among the most attractive for sports bettors. This unpredictability allows for cricket betting markets that are not possible in other sports, such as cricket total overs (How many over). 

In addition, there is the possibility of placing live bets over 4 or 5 days. Thus, it is not necessary to be so quick to get the best odds in real time. Finally, it is worth mentioning the high quality of these matches, as they are only played by the 12 best countries in the world, and the entry of new teams as full members of the ICC is subject to very strict criteria.

T20 and ODI matches, on the other hand, can be played by all countries associated with the International Cricket Council. In total, 96 countries have this status. Considering all the countries that are part of the ICC, there are 22 African countries, 24 Asian countries, 11 from East Asia and the Pacific, 17 in the Americas, and 34 in Europe.

FAQ

How many balls are there in one over in cricket?

An over in cricket consists of 6 legal balls. After that, the bowler is replaced by his next teammate. This continues until the number of overs is exhausted - 20 in T20, 50 in ODIs, and until all batsmen are eliminated in Test Matches.

Can the same bowler bowl two overs in a row?

No. After exhausting the 6 legal balls within the over, the bowler must be replaced by a teammate.

What is a maiden over in cricket?

A maiden over in cricket is when the bowler manages to bowl all six legal balls without the opposing team scoring any runs. In other words, it is a perfect passage by the bowler in the over.

How many overs are played in a T20 match?

In T20 matches, each innings consists of 20 overs. In other words, considering the total for both teams, there are 40 overs in the match.