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Cricket Maths

Maths in cricket: bowling spells

Count overs in order and group balls.

Quick answer

In cricket, a bowler delivers balls in groups called "overs", and each over has 6 balls. You count overs by grouping the balls into sets of 6, and you can use this to keep track of how many balls have been bowled.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to count balls in cricket overs and know how many balls are in each over. Success signs:
  • You can count 6 balls in a row and know it makes one over
  • You can say how many overs you have bowled after counting balls
  • You can explain that 6 balls make one over
  • You can use numbers to show how many balls are in 2, 3, or 4 overs

Why this matters

Cricket is a fun sport that uses maths all the time. When bowlers bowl, they need to count the balls they have bowled to make sure they bowl the right number of balls in each over. This helps the game stay fair and keeps the match moving smoothly. When you learn how to count balls in overs, you're learning a skill that helps you follow along with cricket and even play games that use similar counting.

How it works

In cricket, a bowler bowls the ball in groups called "overs". Each over has exactly 6 balls. You count these balls to make sure the bowler has bowled 6 balls before the next bowler comes in. If a bowler bowls 12 balls, that’s 2 overs. If they bowl 18 balls, that’s 3 overs. To count balls in cricket:
  1. Start with 1 ball
  2. Count up to 6 balls – that's one over
  3. Count 6 more balls – that's the second over
  4. Keep going to count more overs

Examples you can see

Let’s imagine you are watching a cricket match. The bowler bowls 6 balls – that’s one over. Then the bowler bowls 6 more balls – that’s the second over. Now you know that 12 balls have been bowled in 2 overs. Here's how it looks:
Balls bowled Overs
6 1
12 2
18 3
24 4
30 5
Now imagine a bowler who bowls 10 balls. How many overs is that? Well, 6 balls = 1 over, and then 4 more balls are left over. So it's 1 full over and 4 extra balls.

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Cricket Match Countdown You are the scoreboard keeper for your local cricket team. You have to keep track of how many balls are bowled in each over. 1st time: You count 6 balls – that’s one over! 2nd time: You count 6 more balls – that’s two overs! 3rd time: You count 6 more balls – that’s three overs! 4th time: You count 6 more balls – that’s four overs! 5th time: You count 6 more balls – that’s five overs! Now, let’s try a challenge: - If you have bowled 15 balls, how many overs is that? - If you have bowled 21 balls, how many overs is that?

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Thinking that 7 balls make one over.
    Why it happens: Confusing the number of balls in an over.
    Fix: Remember, each over has exactly 6 balls.
  • Mistake: Counting 6 balls but not knowing it makes one over.
    Why it happens: Not understanding that 6 balls = 1 over.
    Fix: Practice grouping 6 objects together and saying “that’s one over”.
  • Mistake: Forgetting how many balls are in 2 or 3 overs.
    Why it happens: Not knowing that 2 overs = 12 balls.
    Fix: Count 6 balls, then 6 more – that’s 12 balls = 2 overs.

Parent and carer guide

Parents and carers can help children understand cricket overs by:
  • Using a real cricket ball or any small object to count balls in groups of 6
  • Playing a game where you count 6 balls and say “that’s one over”
  • Using a number line or chart to show how many balls make 1, 2, 3, and 4 overs
  • Encouraging the child to count aloud and say how many overs they have counted
  • Connecting the counting to everyday life, like “If you eat 6 cookies, that’s one full cookie set”

Practice questions

  1. How many balls are in 1 over?
  2. How many balls are in 3 overs?
  3. How many overs are 18 balls?
  4. How many balls are in 5 overs?
  5. How many overs are 24 balls?
Answers:
  1. 6 balls
  2. 18 balls
  3. 3 overs
  4. 30 balls
  5. 4 overs

FAQ

What is a cricket over?

A cricket over is a group of 6 balls bowled by one bowler before another bowler comes in to bowl.

How do you count overs in cricket?

You count the balls in groups of 6. Each group of 6 balls is one over.

How many balls are in 4 overs?

There are 24 balls in 4 overs because 4 × 6 = 24.

Why do cricket players use overs?

Overs help keep the game fair and make sure each bowler gets a fair chance to bowl.

Can you have more than 6 balls in an over?

No, in cricket, each over always has exactly 6 balls.