How to bet on Cricket
Cricket has attracted gamblers ever since the early years of the sport in England in the 17th century and the modern game offers a wide range of betting opportunities.
From thrilling Twenty20 matches to the epic drama of five-day Tests, cricket has something for every taste and the schedule is packed with international fixtures and franchise leagues taking place all over the world.
Do you want to put your cricket knowledge to the test and understand how to bet on cricket? Then this guide will equip you with the basics.
Cricket explained
The origins of cricket date back over 500 years and the first formal international matches were held in the 19th century.
The aim of the game remains the same – to score more runs than the opposition – but different formats require different skills from batters and bowlers.
The sport is still evolving and there are three main formats played at international level: Test matches, which can last five days with both teams having two innings against the red ball; One-day internationals, in which each team bats for 50 overs against a white ball; and the fast-paced Twenty20 internationals, in which the batting team gets 20 overs for their innings.
T20 franchise leagues such as the Indian Premier League and the Big Bash League in Australia are hugely popular while the English domestic competitions feature 18 county teams.
Types of cricket bets
The match-betting market is the obvious starting-point as punters bet on which team will win the match.
Test matches can end in a draw, if neither team is able to bowl out their opponents or if play is disrupted by bad weather, and the tie is also a runner, especially in 50-over or T20 games.
A match is tied if the scores are level once both teams’ innings are complete. In many competitions, though, ties will be decided by a Super Over, when the teams compete to score as many runs as possible in one additional over.
Top Batter and Top Bowler are also popular pre-match markets, focusing on which batter or bowler will score the most runs or take the most wickets for their team.
And in-play betting, where the odds are updated after each delivery, are another exciting avenue to explore, especially backing the batting team to score over or under the total-runs line.
Here are some other cricket bets to consider:
Batter total runs – Bet on an individual batter scoring over or under a certain number of runs in their innings
Total at first dismissal – This can be a great way to bet on cricket and add some excitement to the early stages of the match. A bet on how many runs the batting team will score before losing their first wicket.
Most fours or sixes – Which team will hit the most boundaries in the match?
Any player to score a 100 – Back ‘yes’ or ‘no’ depending on whether or not you expect a century to be scored in the match.
Total player performance – In this market, players gain points for every run, wicket, catch or stumping they contribute in a match.
How to bet on cricket – What should I be looking for?
Weighing up the balance of a team, and how they might perform in particular conditions, is a crucial skill for cricket bettors.
Look at the depth of their batting line-up – for example, England often had Moeen Ali, a player with five Test centuries, coming in at number eight – and whether they are better suited by pacy or spinning pitches.
It is vital to dig deeper than the bare form. A team who have lost their last five matches on the other side of the world might be virtually unbeatable in more familiar conditions.
The same applies to individual players. If a batter has had a run of low scores, look at the way they have been dismissed – their slump could be down to a shocking run-out, a brilliant catch, a poor umpiring decision and a risky shot when their team needed quick runs.
Cricket is a game of fine margins – dropped catches, balls skimming past the stumps or sneaking over the fielder on the boundary – so bettors must be ready for the odd frustrating moment. However, like baseball, it is a multi-faceted sport, rich in statistics, and it can be rewarding if you do your research, choose which markets to focus on, and pick your battles wisely.
Now you have the basics of how to bet on cricket, why not put your theory into practice at kwiff
Please note that the information provided in this article is for entertainment purposes only. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided. Any action you take upon the information on this article is strictly at your own risk, and we will not be liable for any losses and damages in connection with the use of our article. We do not encourage gambling and remind you to gamble responsibly.
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