Cricket laws state that wides and no-balls do not count as legal deliveries.
Each illegal delivery adds one ball to the over total.
An over completes only after six legal balls are bowled, regardless of extras.
Bowling discipline failures cause overs to extend beyond six deliveries.
Front-foot violations produce no-balls, while deliveries outside the batsman’s reach become wides.
Control issues under pressure or tactical bowling create these extended sequences.
Long overs remain rare because most bowlers maintain basic line and length discipline.
The longest over in cricket history required 22 deliveries, while others range from 13 to 18 balls.
These records document significant bowling control breakdowns across all formats.
Longest Over in Cricket History 2026
Top 9 Longest Overs In Cricket History
| Rank | Bowler | Balls | Wides | No-Balls | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bert Vance (NZ) | 22 | 0 | 17 | First-Class |
| 2 | John Hastings (Aus) | 18 | 12 | 1 | T20 |
| 3 | Mohammad Sami (Pak) | 17 | 7 | 4 | ODI |
| 4 | Curtly Ambrose (WI) | 15 | 0 | 9 | Test |
| 5 | Daryl Tuffey (NZ) | 14 | 4 | 4 | ODI |
| 6 | Scott Boswell (Eng) | 14 | 8 | 0 | List A |
| 7 | Naveen-ul-Haq (Afg) | 13 | 5 | 1 | T20I |
| 8 | Tinashe Panyangara (Zim) | 13 | 7 | 0 | ODI |
| 9 | Arshdeep Singh (Ind) | 13 | 7 | 0 | T20I |
Extras Breakdown in Long Overs
| Over Type | Average Wides | Average No-Balls | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test/First-Class (13+ balls) | 0.0 | 13.0 | Long Format |
| ODI/List A (13+ balls) | 6.5 | 2.0 | Limited Overs |
| T20/T20I (13+ balls) | 8.0 | 0.7 | Short Format |
Wides dominate limited-overs formats in the top 10 longest overs in cricket history.
T20 cricket shows the highest wide count due to wide yorker attempts and aggressive line variations.
ODI cricket balances wides and no-balls more evenly, while Test cricket records more no-ball violations.
No-balls primarily come from front-foot errors in longer formats. First-class and Test matches emphasize accuracy over variation, making front-foot discipline the main issue.
Limited-overs formats see control loss through line errors rather than no-ball violations.
All 9 Longest Overs In Cricket History
1. Bert Vance: 22-ball Over
Bert Vance bowled 22 deliveries in the 1990 Shell Trophy Final. The over contained zero wides and 17 no-balls. Only five legal deliveries were bowled in this first-class sequence.
The no-balls came from deliberate front-foot violations rather than control loss. Wellington used tactical bowling to force a result situation. This remains the highest no-ball in one over in the international cricket context, though the match was a domestic first-class.
2. John Hastings: 18-ball Over
John Hastings delivered 18 balls in a 2025 World Championship of Legends T20 match. The over included 12 wides and one no-ball. This represents the most wides in an over in international cricket by total count.
The wides occurred through line control failures rather than front-foot issues. Hastings bowled wide of off-stump repeatedly during the sequence. The longest over in T20 cricket came from a complete breakdown.
3. Mohammad Sami: 17-ball Over
Mohammad Sami bowled 17 deliveries in a 2001 ODI against New Zealand. The over contained seven wides and four no-balls. This split shows both line and front-foot control issues.
The extras distribution reveals mixed discipline problems. Sami struggled with bowling crease positioning and the delivery line simultaneously. The longest over in ODI cricket history demonstrates how multiple control failures compound.
4. Curtly Ambrose: 15-ball Over
Curtly Ambrose sent down 15 balls in a 1997 Test match against Australia. The over included zero wides and nine no-balls. All extras came from front-foot violations at the bowling crease.
Test cricket discipline emphasizes line control, making front-foot errors the primary issue. Ambrose overstepped repeatedly during this sequence. The 15-ball over shows how no-ball violations alone can extend Test overs significantly.
5. Daryl Tuffey: 14-ball Over
Daryl Tuffey bowled 14 deliveries in a 2005 ODI against Australia. The over contained four wides and four no-balls. This even split represents balanced control failure across both discipline areas.
Equal wide and no-ball counts are unusual in long overs. Most sequences show dominance of one extra type over the other. Tuffey’s over demonstrates simultaneous line and front-foot discipline breakdown.
6. Scott Boswell: 14-ball Over
Scott Boswell delivered 14 balls in the 2001 C&G Trophy Final. The over included eight wides and zero no-balls. All extras came from line control failures rather than front-foot issues.
Boswell maintained front-foot discipline while losing line accuracy completely. The eight-wide sequence shows how line control alone can extend overs significantly. List A format pressure contributed to the control breakdown.
7. Naveen-ul-Haq: 13-ball Over
Naveen-ul-Haq bowled 13 deliveries in a 2024 T20I against Zimbabwe. The over contained five wides and one no-ball. Wides dominated this sequence with minimal front-foot violations.
The longest over in T20 international cricket by full-member nations shows format-typical patterns. Line errors outnumber front-foot failures in T20 cricket. Naveen’s discipline breakdown came primarily from wide deliveries outside off-stump.
8. Tinashe Panyangara: 13-ball Over
Tinashe Panyangara sent down 13 balls in the 2004 Champions Trophy match. The over included seven wides and zero no-balls. All extras resulted from line control failures.
Panyangara maintained front-foot discipline throughout the sequence. The seven-wide count shows a complete line control breakdown. ODI format pressure at the Champions Trophy level contributed to the accuracy loss.
9. Arshdeep Singh: 13-ball Over
Arshdeep Singh bowled 13 deliveries in the 2025 T20I against South Africa. The over contained seven wides and zero no-balls. Six wides went outside off-stump, one down leg-side.
The longest over in T20 cricket history for Indian bowlers in T20Is shows typical format patterns. Wide yorker attempts outside off caused most extras.
While the longest over in IPL history involves different domestic contexts, Singh’s international sequence matches T20 discipline failure patterns.
FAQs on Longest Over in Cricket History
- How do wides extend cricket overs?
Wides do not count as legal deliveries under cricket laws. Each wide adds one ball to the over total. The over completes only after six legal balls are bowled.
- Why do no-balls extend overs?
No-balls are illegal deliveries that must be re-bowled. Front-foot violations or height infractions trigger no-ball calls. The over extends by one delivery for each no-ball bowled.
- Which format records more wides in long overs?
T20 cricket records the highest wide counts in extended overs. Bowlers attempt wide yorkers and aggressive variations more frequently. ODI cricket shows moderate wide counts, while Tests record minimal wides.
- Why do Test matches have fewer long overs?
Test cricket emphasizes accuracy over variation. Bowlers focus on line and length consistency rather than aggressive tactics. This discipline reduces both wide and no-ball frequencies.
- Can an over have only no-balls and no wides?
Yes, Curtly Ambrose’s 15-ball Test over contained nine no-balls and zero wides. Bert Vance’s 22-ball over had 17 no-balls with no wides. Front-foot violations alone can extend overs significantly.
- What causes most extras in ODI long overs?
ODI long overs show mixed extra types. Death-over pressure causes line control loss, producing wides. Aggressive pace bowling creates front-foot violations. The format balances both discipline issues.
- How many legal balls are in the longest over?
Bert Vance’s 22-ball over contained only five legal deliveries. The remaining 17 balls were no-balls. Legal ball count varies significantly across long overs.
- Do wides cost more runs than no-balls?
Both wides and no-balls give one extra run. No-balls allow batsmen to score additional runs freely. Wides only give the one penalty run. Match context determines total run impact.
- Which type is easier to control?
Front-foot discipline (preventing no-balls) is easier to manage than line control. Bowlers can monitor crease positioning more easily than the delivery line. Wide prevention requires sustained accuracy throughout the delivery.
- Are long overs more common in death overs?
Yes, death-over pressure increases long over frequency. Bowlers attempt aggressive variations and wide yorkers. Batsmen pressure bowlers into accuracy loss. These factors combine to produce extended sequences.
Conclusion:
Bowling discipline determines the over length in cricket. The longest over in cricket history required 22 deliveries due to 17 no-ball violations.
Other long overs show varied extras patterns depending on match format and pressure situations.
Key discipline patterns include:
- T20 cricket records more wides than no-balls
- Test cricket shows higher no-ball ratios
- ODI format balances both extra types
- Death-over pressure increases all extras
Front-foot awareness prevents no-ball violations. Line control reduces wide deliveries.
Both disciplines require sustained concentration under match pressure. These records document what happens when bowlers lose one or both control elements.
Extended overs remain rare across all formats. Most bowlers maintain basic discipline even under extreme pressure.
These nine records represent significant outlier performances where control breakdown reached unusual levels.
Format characteristics and match situations determine which extras dominate any extended sequence.
Also Check:
- Highest CSK Scores In IPL History
- Highest MI Scores In IPL History
- Most Expensive Player in IPL Auction History
- Players With The Most Catches In IPL History
About the Author
