Ultimate Guide To Cricket Betting For Beginners
While it may look slow, cricket is an exciting game built on great skill and strategy once you understand the rules. Since England introduced the game in the 1800s, it’s grown to be a massive global spectacle enjoyed by 2.5 billion people.
Cricket is also a game of great skill and strategy, and betting on cricket can be just as exciting as watching the game itself. With a wide range of betting options available, cricket fans have the opportunity to put their knowledge to the test and potentially earn some money. This guide will provide a comprehensive overview of the most popular betting options for cricket, including Moneyline (Head-to-Head), Team w/ top batter/bowler, Total fours (over/under), Total sixes (over/under), Most fours and most sixes.
Cricket betting options
To make the most out of your cricket bets, it’s important to do your research and keep up with the latest news and updates. Understanding the players, their styles, and the pitch conditions can give you an edge when placing your bets on an online sportsbook, such as Stake.
You should also keep an eye on the odds and look for value bets where the odds are higher than they should be. In this article, we will use Stake as a reference for cricket betting options, you’ll be able to explore all the different ways to bet on cricket and make informed decisions when placing your bets.
Moneyline (Head-to-Head)
A moneyline bet is one of the most straightforward wagers in cricket, as you simply place your money on whom you think will win the match. However, if you’re new to sports betting, you’ll need to grasp the concept of match odds.
Bookmakers set odds so that betting on the favorite offers a lower payout than picking the underdog. For example, if Australia were a –200 favorite against South Africa, it would take a USD$200-bet to win $100. Conversely, if South Africa was a +180 underdog, a $100-bet gives a payout of $280 (a profit of $180).
Depending on the market you’re betting on, odds can also be expressed in fractions, representing the amount you can win over the amount you need to bet. Meanwhile, decimal odds multiply your potential payout by the listed odds. Most betting sites will have an odds calculator, so you don’t have to worry about doing the math.
Team with the top batter/bowler
In this type of wager, you pick the team with the leading batter or bowler in a match or series. You don’t have to wager on a specific player, which makes this one of the more straightforward cricket bets you can make.
You can place other similar team bets, such as picking the man of the match, most wickets, and most runs.
Over/under
Betting markets set an over/under line for particular occurrences in a match or series. For example, if a sportsbook sets the line for the total number of runs at 297.5 and you bet over, you win if both teams score a combined 320 runs.
There are plenty of over/under markets you can wager on, such as the number of innings runs, wickets, and basically any other cricket stat.
Most fours and most sixes
In addition to the two bets above, you can place a wager on which team or player you think will score the most fours and sixes in a match. This type of bet is a great way to build your betting slip, as it keeps you engaged in the action throughout the fixture.
Handicaps
This market is designed to level the betting field, allowing you to enjoy a match even when a team has a distinct advantage over its opponent. For example, a sportsbook could give the favorite a –32.5 runs handicap. If you bet on the favorite, they need to overcome that deficit.
Cricket betting tips
Below are strategies you can implement as you build your cricket betting slip.
- Consider playing conditions
Batters and bowlers react differently to different playing conditions, such as the weather, pitch, and wicket. For example, players will respond differently to a test cricket held in New Delhi compared to a match in W, with the heat sure to play a factor. Humidity can affect ball movement, while flat pitches favor certain batters over others. Meanwhile, weather interruptions can also impact the outcome of a match.
While these elements will take time to grasp and master, be observant of these factors as you go along your cricket-betting journey.
- Look for the best available odds
Different platforms will have varying odds set for the same betting market. If you plan on consistently betting on cricket (or any other sport), make it a practice to compare odds before choosing a particular betting site.
- Follow betting professionals and experts
Cricket can be a highly nuanced game. As such, following betting professionals and cricket experts on social channels will help you better understand the game. This will translate to smarter bets and the ability to play the odds better.
Final words
Before you start betting on cricket, watching a few matches is best to get a general feel of what goes on in a game. This lets you find areas of the sport that interests you, allowing you to place bets that make the viewing experience more exciting.
