Most Expensive Overs In The History Of Cricket In All Formats

Stuart Broad and Harshal Patel (X.com)Stuart Broad and Harshal Patel (X.com)

In cricket, the sight of a bowler being hit all around the park is both thrilling and, at times, painful to witness. 

Since the introduction of the T20 format, revised field restrictions and short boundary, the margin of error has reduced for bowlers. 

Several bowlers have found themselves on the receiving end of severe punishments from powerful batters, conceding record-breaking runs in just six balls.

On that note, here are some of the most infamous overs in cricket history, where the likes of Stuart Broad, Harshal Patel, and others conceded the most runs in a single registered over.

Test

Stuart Broad - 35 Runs 

Stuart Broad was once taken to cleaners in a Test match, a format which is generally kind on bowlers. Broad was smashed for 35 runs in a single over by India's tailender, Jasprit Bumrah. This over became the most expensive in Test cricket history, consisting of five boundaries and two sixes.

ODI

Herschelle Gibbs during his 6 sixes vs Netherland in ODI cricket [X]Herschelle Gibbs during his 6 sixes vs Netherland in ODI cricket [X]

Daan Van Bunge - 36 runs

Herschelle Gibbs' six sixes in an over during the 2007 World Cup is one of the most iconic moments in the history of cricket. The unfortunate bowler on the receiving end of Gibbs' onslaught was Netherland spinner Daan van Bunge. Gibbs unleashed a barrage of sixes to become the first player to achieve this feat in an international match. 

T20I

Stuart Broad - 36 Runs

Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh recreated the 6-sixes moments against a young pacer from England, Stuart Broad. Yuvraj hit six consecutive sixes, totalling 36 runs in the over. This feat made Yuvraj the first player in T20 Internationals to hit six sixes in an over and left Broad with an unwanted record 

IPL

Harshal Patel - 37 Runs

In the 2021 IPL season, RCB’s Harshal Patel was taken for 37 runs in a single over by CSK’s Ravindra Jadeja. Patel, who had been the leading wicket-taker of the season, was handed a severe thrashing as Jadeja smashed five sixes and a four, with one of the deliveries being a no-ball. Harshal Patel equaled the record of the most expensive over in IPL history. 

T10

Logan van Been after conceding 60 runs off 2 overs in Max60 2024 [X]Logan van Been after conceding 60 runs off 2 overs in Max60 2024 [X]

Logan Van Beek - 37 Runs

Logan van Beek, the Dutch all-rounder, recently imploded in the brand new T10 league, Max60 Caribbean League. Playing for Grand Cayman Jaguars, van Beek was summoned to bowl the final over, where he was mercilessly trashed by Nick Hobson of Caribbean Tigers. The mammoth 37 run-over included three boundaries and as many maximums. Logan finished the game by conceding 60 runs in just 2 overs.

First Class

Robert Vance - 77 runs

The record for the most expensive over in a First Class match belongs to Robert Vance. The Kiwi off-break bowler bowled this dreadful over in 1990 in a Shell Trophy game between Wellington and Canterbury in 1989-90. 

List-A

Willem Ludick - 43 Runs

In List A cricket, Willem Ludick was hit for 43 runs in one over by Northern Districts' batter, Joe Carter and Brett Hampton. This record-breaking over surpassed the previous List A record of 39 runs, showcasing the sheer brutality of modern-day cricket.