Over and Maiden Over
Also known as: maiden over, maiden overs, wicket maiden, bowling a maiden
An over is a set of six valid balls bowled by one bowler from one end. Wides and no balls do not count toward the six, so an over can contain more than six deliveries. A maiden over is an over in which no runs are charged to the bowler. Byes and leg byes do not spoil a maiden, but a run off the bat, a wide or a no ball does.
Law 17 sets the over at six valid balls, bowled from each end in turn. An over starts when the bowler begins the run-up for its first ball. A delivery does not count as one of the six if it is a no ball. A wide, or called dead before the striker could play it. The umpire calls Over when six valid balls have been bowled and the ball is dead. If the umpire miscounts, the over as counted stands.
A bowler cannot bowl two overs in a row, or parts of two overs in a row, in the same innings. They can change ends as often as they like. A bowler must finish an over they have started unless they are injured or suspended. If that happens, another bowler completes it from the same end. Limited-overs matches also cap how many overs each bowler can bowl. In men's one-day internationals the cap is 10.
A maiden is an over with no runs charged to the bowler. Under Law 18.10.3, the bowler is charged with runs scored off the bat, no ball penalties and wides. Byes and leg byes are not charged to the bowler, so an over containing only those can still be a maiden. A wicket maiden is a maiden in which a wicket also falls.
Tips by skill level
When bowling, count your valid balls on your fingers or with coins in your pocket, and do not count wides or no balls.
Building pressure with dot balls and maidens often leads to wickets at the other end. Bowling in tight pairs, with both bowlers giving little away, is a common way to force a batter into a risky shot.
Example
The bowler sends down six dot balls, but the keeper misses one and the batters run a bye. No runs are charged to the bowler, so it still counts as a maiden over.
Why it matters
Knowing what counts toward an over and a maiden helps you read bowling figures and understand why wides and no balls cost a bowler more than the run itself.
Common mistakes
- Counting a wide or no ball as one of the six balls in the over
- Thinking a bye or leg bye spoils a maiden over
- Assuming the same bowler can bowl again from the other end straight away
- Losing count of the balls in an over when bowling in a match without a scoreboard
Frequently asked questions
How many balls are in an over in cricket?
Six valid balls. An extra ball is bowled for each wide or no ball, because those do not count toward the six.
What is a maiden over?
An over in which no runs are charged to the bowler. Runs off the bat, wides and no balls spoil a maiden, but byes and leg byes do not.
Does a leg bye stop a maiden over?
No. Byes and leg byes are not charged to the bowler, so the over can still be a maiden. A wide or a no ball does stop it.
Does a wide count as a ball in the over?
No. Wides and no balls do not count toward the six valid balls, so the bowler has to bowl an extra ball for each one.
Can a bowler bowl two overs in a row?
No. A bowler cannot bowl two consecutive overs in the same innings, though they can switch ends as often as they like.
Sources
- MCC Laws of Cricket, 2017 Code 4th Edition (2026), Law 17 (The over: 17.1-17.8), pp. 49-52
- MCC Laws of Cricket, 2017 Code 4th Edition (2026), Law 18.10.3 (runs debited to the bowler), p. 57
- ICC Men's ODI Playing Conditions (effective Oct 2026), clause 13.9.1 (no bowler more than 10 overs), p. 23
- Wikipedia, "Over (cricket)": maiden over and wicket maiden definitions
Related terms
- WideA wide is a delivery the umpire judges too wide, or too high, for the striker to hit with a normal cricket stroke from where they stand (Law 22.1). It adds one run and must be bowled again. Many competitions paint wide guide lines and set stricter limits in their playing conditions.
- No-BallA no-ball is an illegal delivery in cricket. Most commonly when the bowler's front foot lands beyond the popping crease — resulting in one extra run and the delivery being re-bowled. The batter cannot be out bowled, caught, LBW, stumped or hit wicket. Run out, hit the ball twice and obstructing the field still apply (Law 21.17).
- Byes and Leg ByesByes are runs the batters take when the ball misses both the bat and the batter's body, usually because it also beats the keeper. Leg byes are runs taken after the ball hits the batter's body but not the bat. The umpire allows leg byes only if the batter tried to play the ball with the bat or tried to get out of its way. Both are extras: they count for the team but not for the batter, and they are not charged to the bowler.
- Good LengthA good-length delivery is one that pitches at the spot that forces the batter to be uncertain whether to play off the front foot or the back foot — often the most testing length a bowler can hit.
- Death-Overs BowlingDeath-overs bowling is the skill of bowling the final overs of a limited-overs innings. The batting team is trying to hit every ball for a boundary.
Cricket analysis is in development
Motion Lab does not analyze this sport yet. Keep exploring the terms in this section.