How many overs can one bowler bowl?
I · Intermediate · What is a fair ball, and what does a foul ball cost? · 7 of 19Checked 13 October 2026
In ODIs a bowler can bowl at most 10 overs in an innings, and in T20 internationals at most 4. In Test matches there is no limit. When rain shortens a limited-overs match, each bowler may bowl no more than a fifth of the overs.
How it works
- The limit is per innings.
- In a shortened match, the total overs are divided by five; if that does not divide exactly, the limit rounds up by one over.
- In a T20 international cut to between 5 and 9 overs, no bowler may bowl more than two.
- If a bowler breaks down mid-over and someone else finishes it, that part-over counts as a full over for both bowlers' limits.
- The scoreboard must show how many overs each bowler has bowled.
Tricky cases
How many overs can each bowler bowl in a 40-over match?
Eight: a fifth of 40.
How many in a rain-reduced T20 of 7 overs?
Two.
Is there a limit in Test cricket?
No. A Test bowler can bowl as many overs as the captain wants, as long as they are not consecutive.
Does a part-over count against the limit?
Yes. Finishing someone else's over counts as a full over towards the limit.
Why the rule exists
In short matches it forces a side to use at least five bowlers, so a team cannot rely on its best one or two.
Where it differs
| Where | Limit per bowler | Source |
|---|---|---|
| The Laws | None, unless the teams agree one | L13.1.2 (by agreement) |
| ICC men's Tests | None | PC-T (no clause) |
| ICC men's ODIs | 10 overs; a fifth of the overs if reduced | PC-O 13.9 |
| ICC men's T20 internationals | 4 overs; a fifth if reduced to 10 or more; two if reduced to 5 to 9 | PC-I 13.9 |
| Leagues | Set by the competition | Not checked |
From the rule book
ICC men's ODI and T20I playing conditions, clause 13.9, October 2026. Checked 13 October 2026. Official document: ICC playing conditions (PDF).