How to Bet on Cricket: Beginner's Cricket Betting Guide

Cricket is a sport that has a fanatical following, but only in certain areas of the world. Despite originating in England, cricket is immensely popular in the sub-continent and Australasia in particular.

It is the national sport of countries such as India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh as well as enjoying huge popularity in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and, to an extent, the UK.

The reason cricket doesn’t attract a wider international audience in comparison to sports such as football is because traditionally it can be slow in pace. Indeed some forms of cricket are played over several days which requires a more discernible and patient spectator.

That’s why in recent years different cricket formats have emerged to make the game more exciting and fast-paced to attract a larger and more varied audience.

Because of this, cricket lends itself well to betting. There are now many different formats including international test matches, one day internationals, Twenty20, plus many domestic leagues and tournaments so there are plenty of options when it comes to cricket betting.

Before we take a more in-depth look at how cricket betting works, we’ll take a brief look at the rules.

What Are The Rules Of Cricket?

Although there are many different formats of cricket, with varying rules for each, all games of cricket centre around scoring runs and taking wickets.

Cricket is played on a cricket field which is a large grassed area with a 22-yard pitch in the centre. The pitch has a wicket at each end which consists of three stumps coming vertically out of the ground with two bails (small sticks), balanced on top.

Two teams of 11 players compete against each other, and they take turns to either bat or bowl. There are also two umpires on the field to adjudicate.

The batting team has just two players on the pitch at any one time, positioned at each wicket. The batters’ aim is to score as many runs as possible before they are dismissed and replaced by a team mate. They score runs by hitting the ball bowled to them and then running between the wickets or hitting the ball over a scoring boundary.

Meanwhile, the bowling team has all eleven players on the pitch at once, either bowling, fielding or wicket keeping. Their aim is to limit the amount of runs scored by getting the batters out, which can be done in a number of ways. When the bowling team get a batter out, it is said that they have ‘taken a wicket’

Cricket players tend to be specialists in a particular area, for example, batting, bowling or wicket keeping, but they can also be all-rounders with multiple skills. Bowlers also have specific specialities within this area, fast bowlers and spin bowlers are the most common, but you will also see seam bowlers and swing bowlers too.

Although different cricket formats have varying rules, generally, teams win a cricket match by scoring more runs than their opponents once both teams have batted.

Key Cricket Scoring Terminology

Cricket has some specific scoring terminology that needs to be understood when considering betting on the sport.

Overs

An ‘Over’ refers to the delivery of six balls. In some cases, Overs are vital to the format of the game. For example, Twenty20 cricket refers to both teams facing 20 Overs each which is 20 x 6 balls (120 balls each).

In long form cricket such as Test Matches, the amount of Overs is not restricted, it is all about overall runs and wickets over five days of cricket. However, Overs are widely used as a general marker in cricket for stats such as scoring rate (runsf per Over). The number of Overs bowled also determines when a brand new ball can be taken. This is important in long form cricket as the ball behaves differently depending on its age and condition.

Innings

When a team is batting it is referred to as an ‘innings’ and in some forms of cricket, teams will only have one innings each. However, in other cricket formats teams have two innings, which means they get two turns at batting and their runs total from both innings is combined.

Four/Six

Some key other terminology relating to cricket scoring, includes the number of runs given for specific boundaries on a cricket field. While one, two or three runs can be scored by the batters running between the wickets, the scores of Four and Six runs are earned by hitting the ball to a certain boundary.

If the ball hits the outer boundary around the outside of the field, then Four is declared meaning four runs is automatically added to the score. If the ball lands outside of the field, which is usually in the stand or crowd, then they have scored a Six. The batters don’t need to run in either of these cases.

Dismissal/LBW

When a batter gets dismissed, it is most commonly due to one of four reasons. If the ball hits the wicket and removes the bails, then it is said the batter has been bowled; if they hit the ball and it is caught, then they are caught out; if the batters are running between wickets and the fielders manage to knock off the stumps, then they are run out.

However, they can also be dismissed due to LBW, which stands for Leg Before Wicket. This is where the batter is deemed to have stopped the ball from hitting the wicket by inadvertently blocking it with their leg.

How Does Cricket Scoring Work?

Cricket scoring is all about runs and wickets, so scores are generally given as two figures together. For example, if the score is 112/4 it means the batting team has scored 112 runs and they have lost four wickets (batters).

Both parts of the score are essential to understand the overall position of the match which can be seen in the example below.

If a team in a Test Match has the score of 200/1 for example, then it would indicate that they are doing exceptionally well. Scoring 200 runs with a loss of just one wicket shows that the team has many more batters to come and would be expected to get many more runs.

However, a score of 200/9 would be considered a poor score as although the run score is exactly the same, they have lost nine of their batters and have very little chance of significantly increasing their runs further before being bowled out.

When a team has lost 10 wickets, their innings is over and batting passes to the other team or the match ends.

Although runs are the main score indicator in a cricket match, wickets are just as important. Therefore, a big focus on cricket betting isn’t just the batting and the scoring, it is also about the bowlers, the wickets and the method of dismissal. We'll take a look at the main cricket betting markets below.

How To Bet On Cricket

The betting markets in cricket are varied and can differ depending on the type of cricket match being played. Here we’ll look at a few of the most common cricket betting markets.

Match Winner

This is the most simple cricket bet on which team you think will win a match. You just choose the team you believe will take the victory and place your bet. The team with the lowest odds is the favourite to win.

Series/Outright Winner

This market is available to league cricket, tournaments and bigger series such as the Ashes. You are betting not on which team will win a specific match, but which team will win the whole tournament, league or series.

Top Run Betting

The Top Run Scorer is a popular betting market and it is usually available for the overall match, per team and per innings. For example, if England are playing Australia, you will find markets for the overall Top Run Scorer in the match as well as England’s Top Run Scorer and Australia’s Top Run Scorer. You can also place a team bet on which team has the top batter or who will be the Top Run Scorer in the first or second innings.

Wicket Taker Betting

Most cricket matches will have markets for which bowler has taken the most wickets. Even if a ball is caught by a fielder, the bowler who bowled the ball claims that wicket as it was his bowl that resulted in the dismissal. You will most likely find Top Wicket Taker markets for both teams e.g England’s Top Wicket Taker and Australia’s Top Wicket Taker.

Score Betting

There are multiple markets to choose from when it comes to cricket score betting. You can bet on which team will have the highest opening partnership in terms of runs, or you can bet on whether any player will score 50+ or 100+ runs in the match or in the first or second innings.

Four/Six Betting

The amount of Fours and Sixes that are scored in the match is a popular betting market in cricket. You can choose whether you think Team A or Team B will score the most Fours or Sixes per innings or per match.

Overs Betting

Detailed markets are usually available for Overs betting, particularly in big international cricket matches. You can place bets on how many runs will be scored in each specific Over, for example, Total Runs in 1st Over or 4th Over. You can also place bets on how many runs you think will be scored by the 5th, 10th or 15th Over.

Innings Scoring

In matches with more than one innings, you can place bets on each innings separately. This could be who is the top run scorer or wicket taker in each innings or how many runs are scored by the 6th over in the first innings for example. You can also bet on individual players per innings, such as, how many runs Joe Root will score in the first innings.

Wicket Betting

Cricket bets can be placed on how many runs have been scored when the first wicket falls. You can also place bets on the method of wicket dismissal e.g. caught or other for each wicket taken.

Coin Toss

A surprisingly popular cricket betting market is on who will win the toss. The teams toss a coin at the start of the match to decide who will bat and who will bowl first and you can place a bet on which team wins the toss.

Player of the Match

Cricket matches usually have a Player of the Match betting market. This is a difficult one to call as any player can receive the accolade and it is usually decided by a team of media pundits. More often than not, it is given to the top run scorer, top wicket taker or an all-rounder who has performed exceptionally well. Occasionally, a team captain will win it for strategic leadership on the field.

In-Play Betting

Cricket is suitable for in-play betting, and can be used to great effect in Test Matches that go over several days. In-play betting is when you place bets after the match has started and due to the slow pace of cricket, there are a magnitude of in-play markets available.

In-play betting means you can also get favourable cricket betting odds. Betting after the game has started means you have more insight into the form of the players, the playing conditions and the strategy of each team so it gives you an edge as well as potentially better cricket betting odds.

Cricket Matches/Tournaments To Bet On

As already mentioned, there are several different types of cricket with various formats. The most prestigious level of cricket is still considered to be Test Match Cricket but there are also a range of other types such as One Day Internationals and domestic leagues.

Although you’ll generally find betting markets for all types of cricket, the biggest and most popular tournaments offer the widest range of markets, which can be seen below.

Test Match Cricket

This is international cricket that takes place over five days and includes four innings in total - two innings for each team. This is the most traditional type of cricket and it is where you’ll find the widest range of cricket betting markets.

Test Matches are contested by the twelve countries who are full members of the International Cricket Council (ICC). They are considered to be the ultimate test of a cricketer’s skill and endurance. A team only wins a Test Match by outscoring or bowling out their opponents after both teams have completed two innings. Otherwise, it ends in a draw.

A Test Series involves between two and five Test matches between the same teams with one team as the host and the other as the visitor. A rotation system ensures that all Test teams play each other over a six-year cycle.

The most famous Test Series in cricket is the Ashes, which is contested between England and Australia every two years. This is made up of five Test Matches over several weeks in key cities in alternating countries.

One Day Internationals (ODI’s)

One Day International cricket matches, commonly abbreviated to ODI’s, are classed as limited overs cricket. Each team faces exactly 50 Overs meaning the match concludes in a single day.

This type of cricket is widely popular due to its faster pace and comes with a more spectacular display of coloured team uniforms, large video screens, plus fielding restrictions and a lighter ball to encourage high scoring.

As well as the large range of ODI matches that take place each year, the ODI format is also used in the Cricket World Cup, which takes place every four years, and comes with a wide range of betting markets.

Twenty20 Cricket

This is a format of cricket that involves each team facing 20 overs each and is considered to be a fast-paced alternative to traditional cricket. It was initially introduced for the domestic game but soon extended further with the launch of Twenty20 International and the ICC T20 World Cup.

Twenty20 cricket also features a powerplay element for the first six Overs, which gives a captain a chance to manipulate the placement of fielders to help the batters score more quickly. During a powerplay, only two fielders are allowed to be posted on the boundaries, which makes it easier for runs to be scored quickly. It is designed to make T20 essentially a batters’ game and more exciting for TV audiences.

There are a varied range of betting markets for Twenty20 matches and tournaments, and they are adapted to suit the short form format.

Domestic Cricket Tournaments/Leagues

There are several tournaments and leagues that take place in the main cricket-loving countries we mentioned earlier. These follow different formats and are played at varying times throughout the year depending on which country.

Although not attracting the wide international audience associated with the other cricket formats, they are still hugely popular and come with a good selection of betting markets. They key ones to look out for are:

• County Championship (UK)

• The Hundred (UK)

• T20 Blast (UK)

• Sheffield Shield (Australia)

• Big Bash League (Australia)

• Indian Premier League (India)

• Ranji Cup (India)

• Caribbean Premier League (Caribbean)

Cricket Betting Tips/Considerations

If you’re looking to start betting on cricket, there are some key considerations you will need to factor in to help you come up with the right strategy.

Pitch Conditions

In cricket, the state of the cricket pitch is absolutely crucial to the game. Bowlers spend literally years honing their skills to get the ball to bounce and move exactly as they want. A pitch that is tacky due to rain, or has more grass offers less bounce, while a harder or drier pitch offers more bounce.

For this reason, the pitch can favour the bowler or the batter depending on its condition and this can have a huge impact on betting markets. A pitch that favours the batter will lead to higher run scores, more Fours and Sixes and probably one or more 100+ run scorers. Whereas if the pitch favours the bowler, expect the opposite such as early wickets.

Cricket Format

There is such a vast difference between the different formats in cricket, that you must take this into consideration when placing cricket bets.

The number of runs scored will be significantly lower in limited overs cricket than Test Cricket for example. You also have to take into account things such as fielding boundaries and powerplays which impact when runs are more likely to be scored within the game.

Make sure you do your research and look at previous games and performances in the specific format before placing bets. If you place your bets on the T20 World Cup based on the team's recent Test Match performance, for example, you might get a nasty shock.

Venue

Playing home or away can have an impact on team performances particularly in international cricket. When England play a Test Series in a hotter climate, they can struggle with humidity, unfamiliarity and uncomfortable playing conditions.

Similarly, the opposite can happen when opposing teams play in the UK. The home team will always have an advantage when it comes to the venue and a home crowd cheering them on which should be considered when betting. The home team also has the advantage of preparing a pitch that will favour their own bowling attack or restrict their opposition’s.

Current Player Form

There is an impressive amount of statistics available online when it comes to individual cricket player performances. It is worth looking at this to find out how a player is currently performing, if they have an injury or if they are experiencing a dip in confidence.

It is also worth getting familiar with player styles, as some batters in particular excel in limited overs cricket where they can really swing the bat from the start and go for the big runs. However, they may struggle more in Test Cricket which requires patience and endurance.

How To Find The Best Cricket Betting Odds

An important factor when betting on any sport is to secure the best possible odds you can.

The better the odds, the more betting value you're getting.

You can use a betting odds comparison site such as Oddschecker to find the best available cricket odds at any bookmaker.

Oddschecker shows the odds you can use at a range of online bookmakers so you can quickly see which bookmaker is offering the best cricket odds on any given bet.

The best odds are shown in bold allowing you to easily identify the best value bets.

You can search and compare a whole range of cricket betting markets too.

Is Cricket Eligible For Matched Betting?

All sports are eligible for Matched Betting techniques as long as the bookies provide the relevant bonus offers. However, there are less regular promotions available for cricket than the likes of football or racing.

It's always worth checking out the offers around the big cricket tournaments though, such as the Cricket World Cup, T20 World Cup or the Ashes as bookies will offer bonuses for these events.