Test vs ODI vs T20: The Three Cricket Formats Explained
International cricket is played in three formats: Test, One Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International (T20I). They share the same Laws, but the length of the game changes everything about how it is played.
The formats at a glance
| Test | ODI | T20I | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overs | Unlimited, about 90 per day | 50 per side | 20 per side |
| Innings | Two per side | One per side | One per side |
| Length | Up to 5 days | About 8 hours | About 3.5 hours |
| Ball | Red (pink for day-night) | White | White |
| Clothing | White | Team colours | Team colours |
| First played | 1877 | 1971 | 2005 |
Test cricket
Tests are the oldest and longest format. Each team bats twice, and a team must bowl the other out twice to win. If time runs out before that happens, the match is a draw, however far ahead one team is. Bowlers can bowl as many overs as the captain wants. Since 2019, Tests between the top nations count towards the World Test Championship, which ends with a final.
ODI cricket
Each side bats once for up to 50 overs. Each bowler can bowl at most 10 overs. A result is almost always reached, and rain-affected matches use the DLS method. The men's ODI World Cup is played every four years.
T20 cricket
Each side bats once for 20 overs, and each bowler can bowl at most four overs. T20 is built for big hitting and fits into an evening, which is why it powers franchise leagues such as the IPL and PSL. A tie is settled by a super over. The men's T20 World Cup is held every two years.
How results differ
- Test: win, loss, draw or, very rarely, a tie.
- ODI and T20: win, loss, tie (settled by a super over in most competitions) or no result if rain prevents the minimum overs.
Which format is best?
Many players call Test cricket the true test of skill and temperament. ODIs reward pacing an innings. T20 rewards power and nerve. Most top players today play all three, although T20 leagues have made some players specialists in the shortest format.
Learn the rules shared by every format in our cricket rules guide, and read about the first Test match.