What Is an Innings in Cricket? — Test, ODI & T20 Explained
An innings is one team's complete batting turn. Tests have 4 innings (2 per team). ODIs and T20s have 2 (1 per team). Learn when innings end, what a follow-on is, and the difference between Test innings and limited-overs innings.
In cricket, an 'innings' (always spelled with an 's' — 'inning' without the 's' is used in baseball) is one team's complete batting turn. A team bats until their innings ends, then the other team bats. The number of innings per team depends on the format.
Innings by format
| Format | Innings per team | Total innings in a match |
|---|---|---|
| Test | 2 | 4 (2 per team, in sequence) |
| ODI | 1 | 2 (one per team) |
| T20 | 1 | 2 (one per team) |
When does an innings end?
- All 10 wickets fall: the 11th batter has no partner, so the innings ends even though they are technically 'not out'
- The allotted overs are completed (ODI: 50 overs, T20: 20 overs)
- The batting captain declares (Test only): voluntarily closes the innings before 10 wickets fall to set a target
- The target is reached (second innings only): once the batting team passes the target, the match ends immediately
Test cricket: two innings each
In Test cricket, each team bats twice. The order is: Team A first innings → Team B first innings → Team A second innings → Team B second innings. The team that scores the most runs across both innings combined wins. A team can win by an 'innings' if their first innings total alone exceeds the combined total of both of the opponent's innings — a dominant performance.
What is a 'follow-on'?
In Test cricket, if Team B (the second batting side) is all out for a total at least 200 runs behind Team A's first innings total, Team A can enforce the 'follow-on' — requiring Team B to bat again immediately, without Team A batting again first. This strategic option saves time and can lead to match wins without a full fourth or fifth day.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called an innings (with an 's') in cricket?
The word 'innings' has been used in cricket since the 18th century and was originally plural even when referring to one team's batting turn. Unlike baseball's 'inning', cricket has always used 'innings' as both singular and plural — 'a good innings', 'three innings'.
How many innings are there in a T20 match?
A T20 match has two innings in total — one per team. Each team bats for a maximum of 20 overs (120 balls). A T20 match is designed to be completed in about 3 hours.
What does 'winning by an innings' mean in cricket?
Winning by an innings means a team's single innings total is greater than the opponent's two innings combined. Only possible in Test cricket where each team bats twice. For example, if Team A scores 600 and Team B scores 250 and 300 (total 550), Team A wins by an innings and 50 runs.