Only a select few nations in the world compete in cricket regularly, but it’s still one of the most viewed sports globally. As a result, the betting potential for cricket remains substantial.
For those who are eager to bet on cricket, we breakdown the most popular betting markets in the sport and outline how to maximise returns in each. Once you’re finished with this guide on how to bet on cricket, you’ll be eager to put your newfound knowledge to the test!
Match Result
Match result betting is one of the most popular forms of cricket betting. It involves predicting the outcome of a cricket match before it begins. There are three possible outcomes in white ball cricket:
- Win: The team that scores more runs at the end of the match is declared the winner.
- Loss: The team that scores fewer runs at the end of the match is declared the loser.
- Tie: If both teams score the same number of runs at the end of the match, it’s considered a tie. This is a highly unlikely outcome in cricket, so many bookies don’t offer it.
A lower number, like 1.684 for Barbados Royals, indicates that the team is more likely to win according to the bookmaker’s assessment. On the other hand, a higher number, like 2.090 for St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots, suggests that the team is less likely to win.
To calculate your potential payout, you’ll need to multiply your bet amount by the odds. For example, if you bet £100 on Barbados Royals at odds of 1.684, your potential payout would be: £100 x 1.684 = £168.40.
Here are the things you need to consider while placing a match result bet in cricket:
- Analyse the teams’ recent performances, including their wins, losses, and draws. Consider whether either team is on a winning streak or losing slump. Momentum can significantly influence a match’s outcome.
- Study how the two teams have fared against each other in previous matches.
- Consider whether either team has a home advantage, which can play a role in their performance.
- Assess the availability of key players for both teams. Injuries or suspensions can significantly impact a team’s strength.
- Consider the type of pitch (e.g., batting-friendly, bowling-friendly) and how it might favour one team over the other.
- If there’s a chance of rain, consider how it might impact the clash. A rain-affected match could lead to a reduced number of overs or even a no result. Factors like wind and humidity can also influence the outcome of a match.
Handicap
Handicap in cricket betting is a type of wager where you’re betting on the margin of victory or defeat for a particular team. It’s similar to the point spread in American football or basketball. The bookmaker sets a “spread” or handicap for the match, typically based on the relative strengths of the two teams.
You can bet on either team to cover the spread. If you bet on the favoured team, they must win by more than the spread to be successful. If you bet on the underdog, they must either win outright or lose by less than the spread.
To better understand how handicap betting works in cricket, let’s have a look at this example from bet365. The spread for this match is +3.5 wickets/+12.5 runs for England and -3.5 wickets/-12.5 runs for Australia. This means:
- England: If England wins outright or loses by less than 3.5 wickets or 12.5 runs, they cover the spread.
- Australia: If Australia wins by more than 3.5 wickets or 12.5 runs, they cover the spread.
Odds:
- England: 1.90
- Australia: 1.90
These odds suggest that the bookmaker views both teams as having an equal chance of covering the spread.
Example Outcomes:
- England loses by 2 wickets: England covers the spread and the bet on England wins.
- England loses by 15 runs: England doesn’t cover the spread and the bet on Australia wins.
- Australia wins by 4 wickets: Australia covers the spread and the bet on Australia wins.
- Australia wins by 8 runs: Australia doesn’t cover the spread and the bet on England wins.
Match spread betting or handicap has certain perks over traditional match result betting, such as:
- Increased Odds: You can often find better odds on match spread bets compared to outright win bets, especially if you’re betting on the underdog.
- More Excitement: Match spread betting can make even close games more exciting, as you’re not just betting on the winner but also on the margin of victory.
Note: Match spread betting is not available in all cricket markets. It’s more common in Test matches and one-day internationals than in T20 matches.
Century Bet
A century bet is a type of cricket wager where you’re betting on whether a specific batsman will score 100 runs or more in a match. If the batsman reaches the century mark, your bet wins. If they don’t, your bet loses.
So, if you bet on Abdul Malik to score 100, you’re essentially predicting that he will achieve a century in the match. If the Afghani batsman does score a century, you will get paid. Otherwise, you will lose your money.
As per the odds shown in the screenshot from William Hill above, for every £1 you bet on Malik scoring a century, you would win £10.00. For example, if you bet £10, you would win £100.
On the contrary, if you bet on Malik not scoring a century, the return would be much lower because of the lower risk factor. For every £1 you bet, you would win £1.04. This might not be a profitable bet given the low odds.
A similar wager can be placed on a certain batsman scoring a half-century or even getting out for a duck.
The key in these wagers is the recent form of batsmen, and what kind of venues they have performed well at in the past.
Over/Under Totals
In cricket, an over/under totals bet is a wager on the combined total number of runs scored by both teams in a match or in a certain over. The bookmaker sets a total runs line, and you can bet on whether the combined total will be over or under that number.
Here’s how it works:
- Setting the Total: The bookmaker sets a total number of runs for the match or in a certain over.
- Betting Over or Under: You bet on whether the combined total runs will be over or under the set total.
- Outcome: If the combined total exceeds the set total, the “over” bet wins. If the combined total is less than the set total, the “under” bet wins.
This bet from William Hill is specifically on the total number of runs England will score in their sixth over of a cricket match. The bookmaker has set two different lines for this over:
- Over 5.5 runs: If England scores six or more runs in the sixth over, this bet wins.
- Under 5.5 runs: If England scores five or fewer runs in the sixth over, this bet wins.
Odds and Payouts:
- Over 5.5 runs: 1.73
- Under 5.5 runs: 2.00
- Over 6.5 runs: 2.10
- Under 6.5 runs: 1.67
If you bet £10 on “Over 5.5 runs” and England scores six or more runs in the sixth over, you would win £17.30 (including your initial £10 bet). If you bet £10 on “Under 5.5 runs” and England scores five or fewer runs in the sixth over, you would win £20.00 (including your initial £10 bet).
You can calculate the potential payouts for “Over 6.5 runs” and “Under 6.5 runs” in a similar fashion.
Top Batter/Top Bowler
This type of bet is typically offered in cricket series or tournaments. It involves predicting which batsman or bowler will have the most successful performance throughout the entire competition. You could predict the best performer for a certain team, or the best performer overall in the entire series or competition.
It’s fairly straightforward, but you need to look at three key areas before placing this bet.
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- Player Form: Look for players who have been in good form leading up to the series or tournament.
- Pitch Conditions: Consider the types of pitches that will be used in the series or tournament, as some players could thrive in it.
- Record Against Opposition: Examine a player’s historical record against a specific opponent when making a wager. For instance, Travis Head’s strong Test record against the West Indies makes him a prime candidate to be Australia’s highest run-scorer in the series or even the overall top scorer.
Live Betting
Live cricket betting allows you to place bets on a match while it’s in progress. This dynamic form of betting offers a more exciting and interactive experience, as odds can fluctuate rapidly based on the action on the field.
Let’s say you’re watching a live cricket match between India and Australia. The current score is India 150/5 in the 30th over. Their target is 230 runs in 50 overs. You might see the following live betting options:
Match Winner:
- India: 1.50
- Australia: 2.50
If India loses three wickets in the following over, the odds are likely to shift significantly in Australia’s favour. Odds for India winning could lengthen, perhaps to 2.00 or higher. For Australia, odds could shorten, possibly to 1.70 or lower.
With all of these markets at your disposal, the options are endless when it comes to cricket betting. We suggest focusing on one type of bet to start with, and practicing making several wagers on that initially.
