How it works
An over is six legal balls, and cricket writes overs as overs.balls. So 18.4 overs means 18 complete overs and 4 balls, which is 112 balls. The number after the point only runs from 0 to 5: after 18.5 comes 19.0.
That notation is not a decimal. As a decimal, 18.4 overs is 18.667 overs, because 4 balls are four sixths of an over. Any calculation involving rates, such as run rate or economy, has to use the decimal form or the ball count.
Adding overs has the same trap. 3.2 overs plus 2.5 overs is not 5.7, which is not a valid number of overs. It is 20 balls plus 17 balls, 37 balls, which is 6.1 overs.
The formula
balls = overs × 6 + balls part (18.4 → 18 × 6 + 4 = 112)
overs.balls = balls ÷ 6, remainder is balls (112 → 18.4)
decimal overs = overs + balls part ÷ 6 (18.4 → 18.667)Worked example
A bowler sends down spells of 4, 3.2, 2.5 and 10 overs.
- In balls: 24 + 20 + 17 + 60 = 121.
- 121 ÷ 6 = 20 overs with 1 ball left over.
- Total: 20.1 overs, or 20.167 as a decimal.
Overs notation to decimals
The part after the point is balls, not tenths.
| Written as | Means | Balls | Decimal overs |
|---|---|---|---|
| .0 | Complete over | 0 | .000 |
| .1 | 1 ball | 1 | .167 |
| .2 | 2 balls | 2 | .333 |
| .3 | 3 balls | 3 | .500 |
| .4 | 4 balls | 4 | .667 |
| .5 | 5 balls | 5 | .833 |
Other ball counts
The Laws of Cricket set an over at six balls. Some countries used eight-ball overs in the past, so older records can look odd if you convert them with six. The Hundred counts deliveries rather than overs, so its figures are already in balls.
Questions
How many balls are in 20 overs?
120. A T20 innings is 120 balls, and a 50-over ODI innings is 300 balls.
Why is 18.4 overs not 18.4 in calculations?
Because the .4 counts balls, not tenths of an over. Four balls are four sixths of an over, so 18.4 overs is 18.667 as a decimal. Using 18.4 directly in a run rate calculation gives the wrong answer.
Do wides and no balls count as balls in the over?
No. Wides and no balls are not counted as one of the six balls, so the bowler has to bowl another delivery. That is why an over can have more than six deliveries.
How do I add two spells of overs?
Convert each to balls, add the balls, then convert back. 3.2 and 2.5 overs are 20 and 17 balls, 37 in total, which is 6.1 overs. The Add up overs mode does this for any number of spells.
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