What is an Over in Cricket?

Last updated on January 3rd, 2023 at 02:24 pm

An over in cricket refers to 6 legal deliveries from the bowler to the batsman. Each delivery provides an opportunity for the batsman to score one or multiple runs. The “over” also allows the bowler and fielding team to record a wicket. A delivery is not counted against the over in the case of a wide ball, no ball, or dead ball.

So, what happens after an over is completed in a cricket match? Why does an over have six deliveries? What are there six balls in an over? Can there be more than six balls in an over? How long does it take to finish an over in cricket? What is a death over, super over, and a maiden over in cricket?

Here is the complete breakdown of what an over is in cricket.

Table of Contents

What Happens After an Over is Completed in a Cricket Match?

After the six legitimate or legal deliveries occur, the umpire will call out “Over.” It is also known as the “over change” when this happens.

After the umpire announces the over change, several changes must take place. The batter and bowler must swap sides on the pitch, and the wicketkeeper must move to the other end of the pitch. The batsman and striker swap out for replacements, and the bowler pass the cricket ball onto the next bowler from his team. Also, the umpires swap responsibilities.

In most cases, an advertisement occurs during the over change.

Why Does an Over Have 6 Deliveries?

Before a rule change in 1979, there were no laws in cricket about a specific number of deliveries per over. Instead, the captains from each team would reach a mutual decision on how many balls per over.

In countries like England, Australia, and South Africa, overs were generally set to either 4 or 5 deliveries. The 4-5 deliveries resulted in much wasted time for frequent over-changes.

In 1979 a rule was put in place that set the number of balls for each over at 6. The number of deliveries was set at 6 for several reasons. Some include 6 being an even number, allowing teams to implement tactics and strategies throughout a game. Also, keeping the number at six would not fatigue the bowlers, which was critical for the game.

Can There Be More Than Six Balls in an Over?

While there are only six legal deliveries in an over, more than six balls can occur. In the case of an illegal delivery, the delivery will not count against the over.

An illegal delivery can occur in a few different ways. In a wide ball, the batsman receives a run, the delivery does not count towards the over, and the bowler must make another delivery. A no-ball occurs when the bowler bowls toward the stumps, but the umpire considers the delivery to be illegitimate for any reason. When this happens, the run goes to the batter, and the delivery doesn’t count as an over.

Dead balls, as declared by an umpire, do not count as a delivery in the over.

How Long Does It Take to Finish an Over?

The amount of time it takes to complete an over can vary depending on which cricket format occurs. In t20 cricket matches, 20 limited overs must be played within 75 minutes. This 20 limited overs results in each over lasting around 3-6 minutes. ODI matches have a longer time of play than t20 cricket matches and have 50 overs rather than 20. However, the length of an over remains relatively similar, around 3-6 minutes.

For test matches, it is hard to estimate the amount of time per over. Both batsman and bowler play a much more patient game during test cricket. Fast bowlers generally take longer to complete an over because of their long run-up to delivery.

What is a Death Over in Cricket?

A death over occurs during cricket matches with limited overs, such as t20 cricket and one-day international matches. A death over occurs during the final overs in a limited game and results in the batting team being extremely aggressive to try and generate a large number of runs before the match ends. Death overs are also known as “slog overs.”

What is a Super Over in Cricket?

A super over is similar to extra innings in baseball. A super over occurs when the score between two teams is tied at the end of a limited-overs match. The super over is a one-over playoff matchup used to determine a winner.

Teams will likely use their best bowler during the super over. Most often, super overs occur during t20 cricket. However, the 2019 ODI world cup final between England and New Zealand was the first time a one-day international match with a super over.

What is a Maiden Over in Cricket?

A maiden over is the equivalent of a shutout inning in baseball. It occurs when the bowler allows no runs during their six deliveries in an over. A maiden over does not occur if the batting team scores runs through wide balls or no-balls.

Conclusion: What is an Over in Cricket?

In conclusion, an over in cricket consists of 6 legal deliveries from bowler to batsman. Following the six legal deliveries, the umpire will declare “Over,” and an over change will occur. During an over change, the batsman, bowler, and wicketkeeper swap sides of the pitch. The batting side swaps batsman, and the fielding side swap bowlers. A delivery does not count toward the over in the event of a wide ball, no ball, or dead ball.

ICC rules dictate that an over consists of six deliveries due to time constraints and fatigue concerns. Most overs generally last between 3-6 minutes, depending on the bowler. Although in the event of test matches, the overs can take longer.

During a cricket match, a death over occurs at the end of limited overs cricket when the batting side tries to score runs as aggressively as possible. A super over occurs when the score is at a tie at the end of the limited-overs. A maiden over occurs when a bowler allows no runs during the over.