Cricket Match Formats Summary — Tests, ODIs, T20s, The Hundred and More
A complete summary of all major cricket match formats: Test matches, One-Day Internationals, T20 Internationals, The Hundred, T10, and four-day domestic cricket — with overs, rules and key differences.
Test Cricket
Test cricket is the oldest and longest format. Matches last up to 5 days; each team bats twice; there is no fixed over limit; and a match is won by dismissing the opposition twice for fewer runs than your team scores. Tests use a red Kookaburra, Dukes, or SG ball and allow 80 overs before a second new ball becomes available. Tests are the format used in the ICC World Test Championship cycle.
One-Day Internationals (ODIs)
ODIs are 50-over matches — each team faces exactly 50 overs (unless dismissed earlier). Each team bats once. Two balls (one from each end) are used per innings. Powerplay: overs 1–10 restrict fielders to 2 outside the circle. The ICC Cricket World Cup uses ODI format. A match has a result in one day; in rain interruptions, DLS applies. No draw is possible — rain abandonment produces no result.
T20 Internationals
T20s are 20-over matches. Each team bats once; each bowler may bowl a maximum of 4 overs; a powerplay of 6 overs restricts 2 fielders outside the circle; no-balls in the powerplay result in a free hit on the next delivery. T20Is are completed in approximately 3 hours. The ICC T20 World Cup is the flagship event. Women's T20 international cricket has grown rapidly — women's T20 WC runs on the same format.
The Hundred
The Hundred is a franchise format created by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in 2021. Each team faces 100 balls (not overs) per innings; deliveries are bowled in sets of 5 from alternating ends; bowlers can bowl consecutive sets for efficiency; each bowler is limited to 20 balls per innings; the powerplay lasts for the first 25 balls (5 fielders inside the circle). The Hundred runs men's and women's competitions simultaneously at the same venues, which has boosted women's cricket attendance.
T10 Cricket
T10 cricket reduces each team's innings to 10 overs (or sometimes fewer), completing a match in about 90 minutes. The format is primarily played at the franchise level — the Abu Dhabi T10 League and similar events — rather than international level. No-balls trigger free hits; powerplays cover overs 1–2; each bowler can bowl a maximum of 2 overs. T10 maximises entertainment value but critics argue 10 overs is insufficient to develop meaningful tactical patterns.
Frequently asked questions
Which cricket format is most popular globally?
T20 cricket is the most popular format by television viewership and live attendance globally, driven by franchise leagues like the IPL, PSL, BBL, SA20, and The Hundred. However, in terms of prestige and historical significance, Test cricket remains the pinnacle of the game in most cricket nations.
Are the rules different in The Hundred compared to T20?
Yes — The Hundred uses 100 balls per innings (not 20 overs), deliveries come in sets of 5 not 6, and bowlers have a 20-ball limit not a 4-over limit. The powerplay is 25 balls, not 6 overs. The scoring of runs, dismissals, and fielding restrictions are otherwise similar to standard T20 rules.
What is the shortest official cricket format?
T10 cricket is currently the shortest format with official standing in some domestic leagues. Experimental street cricket and beach cricket formats are shorter but have no ICC recognition. Cricket's governing bodies have not sanctioned international T10 matches.