Test Vs Limited Overs: Quick Facts and Differences

If you have not registered as a cricket club associate. You are just missing a lot! Cricket is a game you want to be acquainted with and participating in. The batting, bowling, and a few stringent rules set for the players further increase the intensity and excitement. For instance, the 5-day test matches are just on another heat level, although even the one-day matches can be so stimulating. But how do you tell any differences between the test matches and the limited-over cricket games?

The difference between test and limited over matches is in the period each game takes, the dressing code and color of the balls, and other playing rules. Test matches last for five days while the limited over games last for at least 9 hours, with a limited set of overs.

In cricket games, as an observer, you may not be able to comprehend what goes on unless you play the game or have some idea of what it entails. Make sure you read ahead for more information on some facts and differences in the game.

What Happens In Limited Over Crikcet?

In Limited over cricket, many things happen from different bowling structures other than in the other matches. But basically, the game is all about the fielding teams trying their chances to have more scores. These include a set of rules and penalties to govern timekeeping in the game.

While first-class and test matches can last up to 5 days, a limited-overs match usually lasts a day. However, this match is different from other matches because of the “limited-overs” ranging between 20 to 50. Although it is generally a one-day competition, some significant domestic and international limited-overs matches can last for two days.

Limited overs cricket, which includes T20 international, One Day Internationals, and the like, is governed by the following rules.

• Bowling Restrictions

These games have a limited number of bowls by one bowler. The limitation is to avoid the damage a batting side can suffer from having a single skilled bowler on the fielding team. 

Therefore, the limit stands at 20% of the overs per bowler. For instance, if playing a 20-overs cricket, each bowler will have not more than 4 overs.

• Free-Hits

These are important to penalize bowlers who overstep their marks resulting in a no-ball. Besides the fact that you won’t bowl out a batter by this type of delivery. He also gets a free swing without fear of repercussions.

• Five-Run Penalties

As a result of the time factor for limited-overs matches, the umpire may award a team five bonus runs if he feels the fielding team is wasting lots of time. 

This is to help control the game’s pace and make it more exciting at the same time.

• 75-Minute Time Limits

The bowling teams have 3 minutes and 45 seconds to complete their overs. This is a total of 75 minutes for the 20 overs. If the bowlers have not begun their twentieth over before their 75 minutes is out, the umpire would not mind giving six runs to the batting team. 

The rule is strictly to maintain the game’s pace.

• Bowl-outs

It happens if at the end of the day the teams have a tied game. In that case, each side will have five bowlers bowling twice at the wicket. However, there shouldn’t be any batsman by the wicket.

 If a team wants to win, each side has to topple the most wickets.

• Fielding Restrictions

 This is not much different from other cricket matches, for instance, each team has 9 fielders apart from the bowler and the wicket-keeper. However, the fielding positions have to be discussed and pre-planned by the captain and the bowlers. 

As a result, only five fielders can be positioned at the legside of a batsman at any time.

Additionally, only two fielders can stand outside the 15yard circle in the first 6 overs of the game. These fielders increase to 14 in the outside of the inner circle for the remaining 20 overs. 

These fielding restrictions also increase the match flow, creating a spectacular and interesting view for the fans.

How Many Overs Are In a Test Match?

A test match has 450 overs split as 90 overs in a day. However, depending on the umpire, these overs can have a minimal limit. This factor is dependent on weather and the presence of any disruption as well as players getting injured.

Test matches generally last up to 5 days. It depends on the intensity and the importance of the match. So unless there are interruptions such as players getting hurt, weather situations, or more sixes(balls getting off the ground), each team is set to bowl 90 overs in a day.

However, whenever these interruptions occur, it’s up to the umpires to schedule the matches somewhat earlier in the next few days to have a perfect simulation of the number of overs.

 So in general, test cricket evaluates the skills, strength, and competency of the teams competing in it. It has been a long belief that this game format is just for international matches, but once in a while, even local teams can test their skills in the test matches.

The game has a breakdown of 3 sessions, with 2 hours each and-5 minute breaks for drinks amid each session. So of the two innings, each team will have its chance to bat and bowl. 

However, the following results in the test matches can also be the cause for the lengthened days:

• Win:- The winning team has to either dismiss all batsmen from the opponent team or score more runs in their innings. However, a team can also be a winner if the opponent team concedes a loss.

• Loose:- a team loses in test matches if it fails to dismiss all the batsmen of the opposing team. It can also happen when all batsmen in the team get out before reaching the target score set by the opposition.

• Draw:- various reasons can cause teams to draw at the end of a day 5 test match. It may result from poor weather that makes the game hard to continue because of the players’ exposure to dangerous playing conditions. 

It may also be a result of both teams having almost similar bowl strength. 

So the bowling side tends to fail to dismiss the batting side.

• Tie:- it happens when after a general count of the scores, each team gets a similar run score or bartering points. While it can also be a result of both teams getting 10 of their batsmen knocked out by the other.

What Are The Key Differences Between Test Matches And Limited Over Cricket?

The key difference between a test match and a limited over cricket is, players in test matches wear white jerseys and play with a red ball. In contrast, the players in limited over cricket wear colored jerseys and use white balls. Test matches last for five days, and limited-overs last for a day.

Most international matches take place in almost two forms, test, and limited-overs formats. And as a result, with the increasing fan base for the games, both test and limited-overs have been through modifications to maintain their fan base interest over time.

Back then, the number of days in a test match was not limited. So the test match would continue until a winner emerged. But currently, several factors have been taken into account to make sure the matches are not bothersome to their fans.

However, the main differences between the two include:

• Players Jersey

Both formats have the players wearing different clothes for anyone watching the games to tell their differences. In test cricket matches, it is now a culture for the players to wear white jerseys.

These colors help their bodies to reflect off too much heat in hot seasons to make them more comfortable for intense activities. 

On the other hand, the limited over players wear colored clothing in their games. They took this step to attract more fans with the different colors and jersey numbers. 

• Ball Coloring

Test match players make colorful entries into the pitch in their white attire matching red balls. This interests their fans both on the pitch and those following from home. While the one-day players match the white balls with their different colors, thus creating a vibrant background for the game.

• Game Period

Test matches last for up to 5 days based on the intensity and the bowling of the teams. However, the weather is also an influential factor in these matches because if the pitch is unsafe for the players, most games will have to be carried forward to the early morning the next day. 

Limited over games last for up to 9 hours. However, it also depends on the bowling and batting intensity of the players.

• Overs in the Game

In the test matches, the games are limited to about 75 to 90 overs per day. The minimum limit of 75 overs does not apply to all matches. So it is bound to change from time to time based on various factors that may include players getting injured or poor weather, and any other unavoidable circumstance. 

The one-day matches on their side fall into One Day Internationals and T20 Internationals. Each of them with a limited number of overs based on the immediate cricket management board. 

The One Day Internationals have traditionally been played with 50 overs per side, while the T20i has 20 overs. However, the general score criteria in the limited matches are about who can score the most runs within the allocated time.

• Team Innings 

It is the period in a cricket game in which each team takes to bat. So in the test matches, each team has a chance to bat twice. Teams bat once in the limited-overs format, and the innings ended after all the overs have been thrown out. 

It also happens after ten of a team’s batsmen are out.

• Fielding Restrictions

The test matches have no strict fielding rules. So each team’s captain can have the fielders on the slips or even the boundaries. However, the limited-overs format has different fielding restrictions based on its immediate categories. 

The One Day internationals for instance have their fielding rules matching the number of set overs. Therefore, if there are 50 overs, there can be no more than two fielders outside the 30-yard circle, and two fielders must be within the 15-yard ring. 

It is only possible to restrict the number of fielders outside the circle to two fielders with another five overs. The T20 format is slightly different because it has a single powerplay of six overs with two fielders outside the 30-yard circle as well.

What Are The Rules of a Test Match?

The rules of a test match are the balls will be replaced after 80 overs; the umpire will have to request permission from the ICC before directing on night games. Weather and injury disruptions may entail an increase in the next day’s overs to compensate for lost time the previous day.

Before the 5days period began, test matches would go for up to six or seven days with a one-day break after three periods. After considering several factors, including the crowded cricket calendar of their fans, there was a need to reduce the period to five days. 

However, being a test match, the five days will also test the participants’ patience apart from the skills. Some of the rules set to ensure every team meets the entire goal for the test match game include:

• Each fielding team has to bowl a minimum of 90 overs in a day; at least 15 overs per hour. Except for the last day. The relative cricket board will have the final say in case of any disturbances affecting the game setup.

• New balls have to be available after bowling 80 overs in the match. The replacement should also be by a ball of a similar usage condition after passing the loop test.

• The International Cricket Council permits the use of floodlights at night to complete a full day’s matches. However, the umpire will have the final decision, but it must be using a pink cricket ball. Nevertheless, if the umpires wish to hold a test match at night, they must obtain permission from the ICC.

• The general game innings for the match are three sessions of 2 hours each with forty to forty-five minutes breaks between each session.

Why Are Test Cricket And Limited Overs Played Differently?

Test cricket and limited-overs are played differently because in test matches the goal is to take down the opposition twice much faster if possible. And this is why the test matches have no fielding restrictions. While in short-form cricket the batters call the shots.

Contrary to the test match format, where both teams get a chance to bowl, the limited-overs have the batters calling the shots there. So in the end, whichever team scores more runs wins, irrespective of the wickets fell. 

In the event of a tie, both teams will have bowl-out chances. In this case, is when the number of wickets that fall matters.