An over in cricket consists of 6 legal balls (deliveries).

Quick Scoop: Simple Answer

  • In modern cricket, 1 over = 6 legal balls.
  • Wides and no-balls do not count in those six, so the bowler may actually bowl 7, 8, or more deliveries to complete the over.

What Exactly Is an Over?

An over is a set of six consecutive legal deliveries bowled by the same bowler from one end of the pitch.

After those six legal balls, the umpire calls “over,” and a new bowler usually bowls from the opposite end.

Extra Balls: Why It Can Feel Like “More Than Six”

Even though an over is defined as six balls, certain situations add extra deliveries :

  • Wide ball: Does not count as one of the six balls; must be bowled again.
  • No-ball: Also does not count; bowler must rebowl that delivery.

So on the scoreboard you might see 7 or 8 balls bowled in one over, but officially it is still considered a six-ball over because only six legal deliveries define it.

Quick Historical Note (Fun Context)

Historically, cricket didn’t always use six-ball overs.
In the 1800s, some matches had four-ball overs, then five, and at times even eight-ball overs in certain countries, before the modern six-ball standard became universal in major cricket.

Mini FAQ

Q: So how many balls are there in 1 over?
A: There are 6 legal balls in 1 over.

Q: Can an over have 7 or 8 balls?
A: Yes in practice, if there are wides or no-balls, but it is still officially a six-ball over because only legal balls count toward the six.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.