Cricket Betting and Cricket Betting Tips
Cricket is unquestionably one of the top sports in the world in terms of popularity, fan base, and viewership. The sport is not only prominent in India, Pakistan, the UK, Australia, and other major cricket nations, but it also draws a huge number of fans worldwide. According to estimates, 2.5 billion people worldwide follow cricket actively.
This high level of interest in the sport translates to heavy traffic in the cricket betting industry because, like every other major sport, betting is a significant aspect of cricket. In fact, it is difficult to have a complete discussion of cricket without addressing the betting aspect of it.
Cricket betting has a history as old as the sport itself. Needless to say, the introduction of online betting was a major factor that helped popularize cricket wagering worldwide. Today, there is an influx of online sportsbooks on the internet, and almost all of them offer cricket as a betting option.
The convenience, privacy, and anonymity online betting offer make it much easier for punters worldwide to have fun and earn extra money betting on cricket. However, like the sport, cricket betting is a rather technical activity, particularly for a beginner. Betting in cricket, like many other sports, goes beyond predicting a winner or loser. You need to have a fundamental knowledge of the sport itself coupled with essential online cricket betting tips
For starters, there are three distinct formats of a cricket match, each with unique features.
Formats of Cricket Matches
Cricket is a multi-faceted sport with three major formats namely Test matches, ODI, and T20I. Each of these different formats has slight differences in rules and duration of their matches. A good understanding of these cricket formats is necessary, particularly if you’re considering betting on the sport.
Test Matches
Test cricket is the longest-running cricket format. It is regarded as the most demanding cricket format because each test match consists of four innings totaling 450 overs. The matches are usually played over five days, with 90 overs bowled daily. It is also the oldest cricket format and is widely regarded as the highest level of the sport.
Test cricket appears to be the best format for live betting due to the length of the games. It allows bettors to analyze their options and consider various in-game factors before placing their wagers. Punters can make predictions based on the weather, team performance, and tempo during the five-day game.
The game’s length also makes it difficult for upsets to occur frequently, which means that punters can always wager on the favorites. Furthermore, due to the duration of this match format, outright betting markets such as top wicket-taker, series winner, and top batsman have more value, resulting in a higher return when bettors win wagers on these options.
The ICC World Test Championship (WTC), the Ashes, and the Border–Gavaskar Trophy are some of the most prestigious cricket events played in this format.
One Day International (ODI) Matches
A One Day International is a one-inning match where each team plays 50 overs. This match format typically lasts nine hours, meaning they are shorter than test matches. The ODI cricket format was introduced in 1971, but it wasn’t until the 1980s that it began to gain popularity.
One of the key reasons for adopting this version of cricket was the need to simplify the sport to a shorter duration. ODI matches tend to appeal to a younger audience and bettors because the results are known sooner. Also, due to the one-day limit, teams tend to approach the sport with more aggressive strategies, such as power plays and runs.
The ICC Cricket World Cup which is the most prominent cricket event globally is played in this format.
Twenty20 (T20) Matches
The T20 is the shortest of the three cricket formats. A T20 match is only about three hours long, with each team playing 20 overs. Due to its short duration matches that are usually action-packed and fast-paced, the T20 format was instrumental to the significant growth of cricket in several countries worldwide. This is proven by the large number of T20 leagues that rose following the popularity of the ICC T20 World Cup in 2007, its debut season. Some of these T20 leagues include
- The Indian Premier League (IPL)
- The Australian Big Bash League (BBL)
- Bangladesh Premier League (BPL)
- Pakistan Super League
- Carribean Premier League
- Afghanistan Premier League, etc.
This cricket format is the most recent of the three, having only been introduced in 2005. When it was first launched, there were no plans to make it an international cricket format. It was initially established to create an alternative short-span game that would attract fans as the earlier formats looked time-consuming. The plan worked excellently, and soon, the ICC recognized T20 as one of the formal cricket formats.
Furthermore, the short timeframe of T20I games increases the likelihood of surprises and upsets. Unlike in Test cricket, when matches ultimately even out in favor of the favorites, an early edge in the T20 format can entirely shift things in favor of the underdog. This means that bettors can sometimes profit from the high odds of betting on underdogs. The short timeframe of T20I matches also means that the games can be pretty unpredictable, making the format a favorite among cricket bettors.
Popular Cricket Tournaments to Bet On
With the vast range of international and domestic cricket tournaments played worldwide, cricket is a bettor’s paradise. The fact that there are three cricket formats further contributes to this diversity, meaning that there are numerous competitions across all three versions of the sport. In fact, world-class international cricket competitions such as the ICC World Cup are hosted differently for each game format.
However, the variety of cricket games on which a punter wager is usually determined by the games and tournaments covered by their sportsbook. This is why it is important to use a sportsbook that offers a wide range of options. Here are some of the most popular cricket tournaments to bet on:
ICC World Cup
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is the world’s highest cricket governing body. As a result, the ICC World Cup is the most important cricket tournament on the planet. The tournament is held every four years and is one of the world’s most-watched sporting events. The competition is played in ODI format, with the first edition taking place in 1975.
Moreover, the ICC also hosts other international tournaments played in the T20I and Tested cricket match format. However, the ODI-format ICC Cricket World Cup remains the biggest so far. The tournament is also the oldest. In fact, the ICC world Test championship, the Test match version of the competition, was only introduced in 2019, while the ICC T20 world cup was introduced in 2007.
Alongside these three ICC international tournaments, there is also the ICC Championship Trophy, which is also played in the ODI format of cricket. It was launched in 1998, and unlike the main ICC world cup, it is played biennially.
Other international ICC tournaments that Punters can take advantage of include the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, the ICC Women’s T20 Champions Trophy, the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup and the ICC Under-19 Women’s Twenty20 World Cup.
Being the number one cricket governing body in the world, the ICC membership is stacked with India, Pakistan, England, Australia, South Africa, and other top cricket-playing nations of the world. This makes the tournaments a special interest for fans and punters worldwide, as they can wager on several top games and enjoy quality cricket in play.
Asian Cup
The Asian cup is another top international cricket tournament played every two years. The tournament is organized by the Asian Cricket Council, the number one cricket governing body in the continent. The tournament is played in both the ODI and T20I cricket formats.
Moreover, what really gives the competition its relevance is that most cricket fans worldwide are Asians. In fact, in countries like India and Pakistan, cricket is more or less considered a religion than a sport. Alongside the Asian cup, there are currently no other continental tournaments organized by the Asian Cricket Council.
Indian Premier League (IPL)
Although the IPL is a domestic competition, its global popularity makes it appear to be an international tournament. In fact, it is the most attended cricket tournament in the world. The league began in 2008, and so far, it has been running for 15 seasons. It is played in the T20I cricket format and currently comprises 10 competing teams.
The IPL is one of the world’s pioneer domestic T20I cricket leagues. Before its formation, there were only two notable domestic T20I leagues worldwide, primarily the English and Welsh T20 Blast and New Zealand’s Super Smash League.
The IPL’s establishment and its massive success inspired the creation of multiple T20I domestic leagues worldwide, including the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), Pakistan Super League (PSL), and the Big Bash League, among others. Other nations such as the United States, United Arab Emirates, and South Africa are also looking to kickstart their T20 domestic cricket leagues soon.
As a cricket punter, IPL is a cricket event you don’t want to miss out on. Luckily, we have some helpful IPL betting tips for you later in this article.
The Ashes Test Series
The Ashes is indeed a cricket clash that no cricket fan would want to miss for anything. This Test cricket series is played almost every year between England and Australia. Being two world-class cricket-playing nations, an encounter between these two sides is always action-packed. Games such as this are usually fans’ delight as much as bettors.
Border-Gavaskar Trophy
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is another cricket Test series born out of rivalry. The match is played between India and Australia. Hence the trophy is named after two legendary captains of both teams; India’s Sunil Gavaskar and Australia’s Allan Border. The Test series started in 1996 and has been played almost every year since then.
Bet Types You Can Place in Cricket
Cricket betting is no longer limited to predicting a win, tie, or defeat, as it was in the early days of sports betting. Instead, there are now numerous options and outcomes to choose from. It can be a prediction of the total score of the game, the performance of the bowler or batter, the winner of a tournament, etc.
These various possibilities give bettors a significant advantage because they now have multiple options at their disposal. This not only makes betting a more exciting activity but also raises the likelihood of bettors making correct predictions and, by extension, winning wagers. Here are some of the most popular bets you can place in cricket.
Moneyline Bets
Also known as straight bets or matchwinners, Moneyline wagers are the most prevalent and straightforward wagers. They require a bettor to predict the winner of the match between the two competing teams. The bookmaker gives the favorite team between these two sides relatively small odds based on their likelihood of victory. Underdogs, on the other hand, have higher odds, which generally tempt more punters to wager on them because the higher the odds, the higher the payout. A bettor can also predict a draw as the outright outcome of a match.
Cricket Series Bets
Cricket matches, particularly international matches, are usually played in series. A cricket series can consist of two to five matches, and it is won by the side that wins the most matches. A cricket series wager indicates that the bettor is placing a wager on the series winner.
However, just as a cricket match can conclude in a tie, so can a series. However, this happens only on rare occasions, which means that bettors can also wager on a draw as the series’ outcome. Wagers on a cricket series typically yield a better return than regular matchwinner wagers, particularly when the stake is made on the underdog or an unexpected occurrence such as a draw.
Cricket Tournament Bets
These are long-term wagers that require predicting and placing a wager on the winner of a cricket tournament. Odds for these kinds of options are usually larger than conventional matchwinner wagers, although there are favorites and underdogs too.
Handicap/Spread Bets
With this option, you can give a team an advantage or handicap the other team. The option can be a little confusing, as it presents the possibility of placing a successful wager on either of the two competing cricket teams. In this option, a punter typically predicts how many points by one team, usually the favorite will win and how many points by which the other team usually the underdogs will lose. In cricket, sportsbooks use the number of runs by each team for this bet.
For example, if the sportsbook shows a 20.2-run advantage for India in a handicap bet, it signifies that India is favored by 20 runs. To win a wager on India, the team must win the match by at least 20 runs else, the bet will be lost.
Over/Under Bets
Over and under wagers is another common sports betting option. When a bettor wagers on this option in cricket, he or she predicts that the number of runs scored by either team or both teams combined will be above or below a specified threshold. The sportsbook usually gives some benchmarks, and the bettor has to predict whether or not the benchmarks will be exceeded. For example, if a bettor places a wager on a team to score over 20.5 runs, he wins if they score 21 runs or more. If the threshold is under 20.5 runs, he wins if the team scores 20 or fewer runs.
Sometimes this option can also be available for a single inning of the match instead of the whole duration. That is the wager will be placed on the number of runs scored within one inning. The over-and-under option is considered by many to be one of the safest options in cricket betting.
Completed Matches
Cricket formats such as test matches and one-day internationals can go for days and extended hours, respectively. These games may not always end on time, especially if there are still innings to be played. Sometimes games are interrupted because it is no longer possible to continue playing, perhaps due to unsuitable weather conditions. As a result, some sportsbooks usually allow bettors to wager on whether or not a game will be completed within the allotted time.
Player Prop Bets
This is the proposition sphere of cricket betting. Prop bets are more specific because they are concentrated on specific events and players. With this type of wager, you are simply predicting a specific player’s statistical performance from either of the two teams involved. Player prop wagers are a popular option in cricket betting. Some of the most popular player prop bets are:
- Top Batsman
With this option, you are betting on the player you expect to score the most runs at the end of the game, series, or tournament. Since these options are so specific, they usually have higher odds, implying a higher return on winning.
Even though the option appears to be risky, a careful review of key elements such as a batter’s career average, record against that opposition, win percentage as a top batsman, and previous performances, among others, should provide you with insight into the proper choice. Also, the odds are another essential element to consider because the higher the odds on a specific batter, the less likely they are to be the top batsman, and vice versa for low odds.
- Top Bowler
A bowler is a player who propels the cricket ball to make a wicket. The batter, on the other hand, defends the wicket. In a cricket match, bowlers from both teams alternately bowl an over, which consists of six deliveries. The top bowler betting market means placing your wagers on the bowler that takes the most wickets at the end of the game, series, or tournament. It can also be at the end of an inning.
- Man of The Match
The option simply forecasts who will be named man of the match at the end of a cricket match. The man of the match is the player who has made the most noteworthy contribution during the game. This option is similar to the player of the tournament or season options. However, in these cases, the wager is on the best player in a cricket tournament or league. Other player prop bets include betting on the method of dismissal, most runs or sixes between two selected batters, and so on.
Futures
These are long-term predictions, with the most popular example being predicting a tournament winner. For example, if you bet on a team winning the IPL before the start of the tournament, and your chosen team goes on a streak of excellent performances at some point in the competition, the odds of them winning the tournament diminish. However, you are in luck because you placed your wager before the tournament began when the odds were higher.
Other cricket betting options include the highest opening partnership, the most boundaries, the toss winner, and the batsman contest, among others. Overall, the amount of betting selections available in cricket, especially when props are considered is vast and almost inexhaustible.
Parlays
Parlays are not a form of cricket bet in and of themselves, but rather a widespread sports betting practice that is also frequent in cricket. It is also referred to as an accumulator. A parlay usually entails aggregating many wagers into a single bet rather than wagering on a single game.
For example, you could bet on Pakistan scoring over 20 runs in their ICC match while also betting on England winning in another match and Virat Kohli being the top batsman in another ticket. These selections often result in higher odds and a higher return on winning. However, these wagers are risky because the bet is lost if just one selection fails.
Cricket Live Betting
Live bets, also known as in-play betting, allow bettors to wager on games while in play. The advantage of this form of betting is that bettors can make their picks based on the progression of a sports event. The game odds fluctuate as the game progresses based on the likelihood of an event happening. For instance, in a cricket match between team A and team B, the odds for team A to win the match reduce as the game goes on if they are winning the match and increase if they are not.
However, bettors can also take advantage of these odds changes to wager on high-odd outcomes that appear likely based on the game’s tempo. Long-form cricket games like test matches and ODIs are ideal for live betting. Bettors can place live prop wagers on who will take the next wicket, the method of the next dismissal, the next wicket to fall, the player to hit the next boundary, the team’s total runs, and so on. Overall, it is always advisable to follow the matches closely to make the best decision.
Cricket Betting Tips
Apart from being one of the most popular sports, cricket is also one of the most betted-on games worldwide. The sport’s diverse nature makes it appealing to punters because it provides a wide range of betting opportunities and markets to choose from.
However, becoming successful in the cricket betting scene can be a little difficult, especially for beginners. Even with prior knowledge of the sport, a fundamental understanding of how cricket betting works is also required. Let’s look at some cricket betting tips that bettors can find useful.
Choose The Right Bookmaker
Whether online or land-based, you need a bookmaker to be able to place wagers. Recently, online betting sites have been in vogue. However, due to the enormous number of betting sites available on the internet nowadays, it might be difficult to distinguish between a reliable and legitimate site, particularly for a newbie.
One of the most crucial online cricket betting tips is thoroughly researching any online bookmaker before signing up with them. Reading reviews from previous site users is an excellent place to start. You should also check the user interface of the site, payment options, customer service, and, most importantly, the betting markets they cover.
You can also talk to experienced bettors who have had a degree of experience in the cricket betting world. Overall, it is always preferable to simply sign up with a bookmaker with a long history of excellent reputation. This eliminates the stress of conducting thorough research before signing up.
Understand The Game of Cricket
A good understanding of the game is a huge advantage. It is not wise to base your selections solely on the displayed odds, as the odds may not accurately depict an event’s likelihood. If you want to wager on cricket games, you should at least understand how the game is played. Understanding the game will help you understand the various betting options. Beyond the odds, this knowledge will help you determine which event is likely and which is most unlikely.
It is also important to have a good knowledge of the team or player you are betting on. Say you are betting on the IPL; one of the important IPL betting tips will be to follow and watch the IPL matches and follow every important news. This will familiarize you with the various teams in the league as well as their performances. You can then make more informed wagers based on this knowledge.
Follow The Team’s Form
Like in any other sport, teams and players can be in good form and go on a winning streak, and it can also be the other way around. A team’s form can be an excellent way to predict the outcome of a match.
For example, let’s say your bookie set the odds for a Gujarat Titans victory against the Chennai Super Kings in the sixth IPL league match of the previous IPL season at 3.5. The odds are quite high because CSK appears to be a stronger side, especially given that they won the IPL title the previous season.
However, given that the Titans have won the preceding five matches leading to that match, you can take advantage of these high odds by betting on a Titan win. Making such a wager on the underdog based on their form implies that you are familiar with the IPL matches and the performances of the various teams.
Check The Weather and Pitch Conditions
One of the most essential online cricket betting tips is to always check the weather and pitch conditions of a cricket match, both of which significantly impact player performance and the outcome of a cricket match.
For example, playing a game in rainy or windy conditions can make scoring runs more difficult. This means it may not be wise to place an over/under wager in such conditions because the total number of runs scored may be low.
Don’t Chase Losses
This is one of the most crucial betting tips to always keep in mind because losses are inevitable in betting. However, your reaction to losing money matters. Many bettors, particularly newbies, attempt to recoup their losses as quickly as possible. As a result, they go on a binge of subsequent wagers, which usually lose to more losses.
Chasing losses will almost always result in greater losses because the bettor’s decision is now clouded by his emotions and desperation to win at any cost. An effective method to manage betting losses is to set a budget and stick to it. If you surpass your budgeted wager for the day, you need to quit, even if you are at a loss. The same should also apply to winnings.
Take Advantage of Bonuses and Promotions
Betting sites frequently offer various bonuses and promotions, particularly to new bettors who have just signed up. You should take advantage of these incentives to place additional wagers without having to pay money out of your bankroll. However, most of these bonuses and promotions are only available if the appropriate terms and conditions are met.
As a result, even if a sportsbook provides a wide range of bonuses and promotional offers, you should review the requirements to see whether they are preferable and achievable. While this betting tip is highly helpful, it is worth noting that many sportsbooks have ridiculous conditions that make it nearly hard to claim their promotional offers. So you must research what type of bonus a sportsbook offers before signing up to bet.
Learn From Professional Tipsters
Some expert cricket bettors and tipsters provide free betting advice and suggestions on the internet. You can also benefit from these betting cricket tips free. However, it is not wise to simply follow online tipsters blindly. Instead, conduct your research before placing such suggested wagers.
Cricket Betting Odds
Odds are a crucial part of betting. As a result, understanding how cricket odds work is essential. Most punters, especially beginners, make the error of viewing odds exclusively as a multiplier of stakes. As a result, they are frequently enticed to wager on huge odds with little likelihood of winning.
On the other hand, bookmakers utilize odds to indicate the likelihood of an event occurring according to their calculations. For example, consider a contest between teams A and B, where team A is the favorite and team B is the underdog. Team A has a better chance of winning; hence, it has low odds. On the other hand, the probability of team B prevailing is significantly higher. Simply said, the higher the odds, the more unlikely an event is to happen. However, this does not always play out in cricket and sports in general, as there can be upsetting scenarios in which the underdog wins or the game ends in a tie. So it’s always best to still make your own research to know which team to bet on.
Odds vary from one sportsbook to another, even for the same events. It is often advisable to compare the odds different bookies offer to find the best one to wager on. While these differences look minimal, they can make a lot of changes to your overall betting slip.
Most sportsbooks usually display odds in decimal form. However, there are two other alternative odds formats. You’ll find some sportsbooks that offer all three forms and allow users to switch between them based on their preferences.
The three different odd formats include:
Decimal (European) odds
As the name implies, decimal odds are displayed as decimal figures. For example, suppose the odds of Mumbai Indians winning a match is 2.5. In that case, a bettor will receive 2.5 dollars for every dollar placed on Mumbai Indians winning. By that calculation, staking 200 dollars on that match will yield a 500-dollar return upon winning.
Fractional (British) Odds
Fractional odds are displayed in fractions. This odds format is mostly common with British and Irish sportsbooks. It is the best odds to determine the profit won on a wager. For example, if the chances for Virat Kholi to be the top batsman in a match is 5/4, a $100 wager on that option will result in a 125-dollar profit and a total win of 225 dollars.
However, by just completing the division, you can easily convert fractional odds to decimal odds. A 5/4 odds, for example, equals 1.25 in decimal. This way, you can easily determine whether the odds are low or high.
Line (American) Odds
Line odds look a little more complicated than the previous two. The odds are expressed with a positive sign (+) and a negative sign (-), followed by a whole integer. The positive symbol represents the underdog in the contest, while the negative symbol represents the favorites. The numbers after the signs, on the other hand, indicate the amount to be won for a $100 wager.
For example, suppose there is a match between England and Australia, and the odds are +200 for England and -400 for Australia. This means that Australia is the favorite, and a profit of $400 will be made for every $100 wager placed in their favor. This is why it’s often called the money line odd format.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some of the frequently asked questions about cricket betting:
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How Legal is Cricket Betting?
Whether betting on cricket is legal or illegal depends on your county’s legal position on the subject. However, as long as you place your bets with a licensed sportsbook, you are not breaking the law. The sportsbook usually bears a substantial portion of the legal burden, not the bettor.
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Who is Eligible to Bet on Cricket?
Your eligibility to wager on cricket is determined by your country’s legislation. Most countries, however, prohibit anybody under 18 from partaking in sports betting.
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Can I Bet On a Cricket Match That is Going on Already?
Yes, the live betting option allows you to place bets while the game is still in progress, albeit the odds on various events will change as the game progresses. It also depends on whether or not your sportsbook offers live betting. This is why you should do your homework before signing up with any sportsbook.
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Can I Bet With Real Money?
As long as you fund your betting account, you can do so. You can also withdraw your winnings into your local bank account.
Conclusion
It is almost impossible to discuss the subject of cricket without mentioning the influence of its betting action. The diversity and wide scope of the sport make it a punter’s delight as it is filled with diverse betting opportunities. Hence, it is not a surprise that the sport is one of the most wagered on online
Does our comprehensive guide provide all the online cricket betting tips you need to know? If yes, what are you waiting for? Register on licensed and suitable sportsbooks and start placing your wagers right away!