How Long Is a Cricket Game? Length by Format Explained
A Test match lasts up to 5 days, an ODI takes around 7–8 hours, and a T20 game is typically 3–3.5 hours. Here's how long each format of cricket actually takes.
Cricket’s game length depends entirely on the format. A T20 match lasts roughly 3 to 3.5 hours, an ODI around 7 to 8 hours, and a Test match can extend across up to 5 days with 90 overs bowled each day. Understanding each format helps set the right expectations.
Game length by format
| Format | Overs per side | Typical duration | Days of play |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test match | Unlimited (90 overs/day target) | 3–5 days | Up to 5 |
| First-class (domestic) | Unlimited | 3–4 days | 3 or 4 |
| List A / ODI | 50 overs | ~7–8 hours | 1 |
| T20 / T20I | 20 overs | ~3–3.5 hours | 1 |
| The Hundred (100-ball) | 100 balls | ~2.5–3 hours | 1 |
Test cricket: the five-day game
Test cricket is the longest format and is widely considered the sport’s purest form. Each day’s play targets 90 overs across three sessions:
- Session 1 (approximately 2 hours)
- Lunch (40 minutes)
- Session 2 (approximately 2 hours)
- Tea (20 minutes)
- Session 3 (approximately 2 hours)
Rain, bad light, and slow over rates can reduce overs bowled per day. A Test match ends as soon as one side wins, which sometimes happens in 3 days; occasionally matches go the full five days and still end in a draw.
ODI cricket: the one-day format
Each team bats for 50 overs. With time between innings, drinks breaks, DRS reviews, and the innings interval (usually 40 minutes), an ODI typically occupies a full day of broadcast — roughly 7 to 8 hours from first ball to last.
T20: the short-form game
Twenty20 cricket was designed for evening broadcasts and casual audiences. Both teams bat 20 overs. The match is usually complete in under 3.5 hours, including the innings break.
What can shorten or extend a cricket match?
Several factors affect actual duration:
- Rain delays and bad light — common in Test cricket, can cause entire sessions to be lost
- Declarations — in Tests, the batting captain can declare their innings closed early
- All-out quickly — if a team is bowled out in fewer overs than allocated (Test: quicker finish; T20/ODI: fewer balls bowled)
- Slow over rates — teams may face penalties for not bowling the required overs in time
- Super Overs — in T20s tied after 20 overs, a Super Over is bowled as a tiebreaker (adds ~15 minutes)
Why formats vary so much in length
Cricket’s multiple formats exist to serve different audiences and markets. Test cricket rewards patience, strategy, and endurance over five days; T20 was deliberately created in the early 2000s to compete with other entertainment options and draw in new audiences unfamiliar with the traditional game.
Quick summary: T20 = ~3 hours, ODI = ~7–8 hours, Test = up to 5 days. The format determines everything — cricket deliberately offers a range of lengths to suit different audiences and occasions.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a Test match last?+
A Test match is scheduled for up to 5 days, with 90 overs bowled per day across two sessions of play separated by lunch and tea intervals. A match can finish earlier if one team wins or the match is drawn before day 5.
How long does an ODI cricket match take?+
A One Day International (ODI) features 50 overs per side, which typically takes 7 to 8 hours including a mid-innings break and other stoppages.
How long is a T20 cricket game?+
A T20 match features 20 overs per side and typically lasts around 3 to 3.5 hours, making it the shortest and most popular format for broadcast and live audiences.