How To Bet On Cricket – Betting Guide

Knowing The Game

When betting on Cricket for the first time, it’s important that you understand how the game is played. In simple terms, Cricket is a team sport played between two teams and typically consists of one or two innings. The batsman in play will hit the ball bowled towards him. The aim is to score as many runs as possible, either by running between the wickets once the ball has been hit or by hitting the ball to the boundary. Of course, within this there are plenty of intricate rules to know if you are looking to bet on specific outcomes within the game, but knowing the basics will help with the most popular types of wagers offered on betting sites.

How To Bet On Cricket

As with any sports betting, the first thing to do is choose the betting site you’d like to use to place your bet. Consider some of the following to help make your choice:

• The betting markets available and the odds quoted
• The ability for in-game betting
• Welcome offers available

Placing your bet on your chosen betting site should be simple. While steps may vary slightly between sites, here’s how it works:

1. Register or log in to your chosen betting site
2. Make a deposit onto your account of the total amount you want to wager
3. Navigate to the betting site’s Cricket section
4. Find the game and market you would like to bet on
5. If you are happy with the odds, enter your wager and submit your bet

Cricket Betting Markets

In Cricket, the most popular betting type for all types of punters is the match bet, or money line bet. Betting sites will also offer other markets, such as innings runs, first ball/first over, player and team totals, live betting and prop betting. Here’s how they work:

Betting Market	How It Works
Money line	Also known as a match bet, this market allows you to bet on the outcome of the game, typically a team to win. Some betting sites will give the option of a draw outcome depending on the competition format, but for the majority of games, you will be selecting a winner.
Innings runs	This is another favourite amongst punters. In this market, you wager on the number of runs you think will be achieved in an inning. Rather than selecting an exact amount, you also have the option of an over or under bet, where you simply wager on whether the number of runs in an inning will be over or under a number predetermined by your chosen betting site.
First ball/First over	This betting type allows you to bet on a specific outcome towards the start of the match. Here, you bet on a specific outcome for the first ball or over of the game. For example, this could be a six, a four, a wicket and so on. Some betting sites will provide individual odds for each outcome. This betting type is also sometimes presented as an over/under market where you wager on the total instead.
Player and team total	This betting market gives you the opportunity to bet on the total runs scored. This can be done either on an individual player basis or a team total. Your chosen betting site will set a line and you have to wager whether the outcome will be over or under this number.
Prop betting	As with all sports, prop, or proposition, betting provides the chance to bet on smaller outcomes throughout a match. You can find many different types of bets within this market, including things like the winner of the coin toss, the top batsman or bowler and the player or team to achieve the most sixes.

Most betting sites now will offer live betting options, which is great if you want to get really involved in the match while it is happening. It also allows you to base your wager on the performance of the game so far and sometimes access better odds.

Strategies And Top Tips

When betting on any sport, you want to put yourself in the best position for a win. Before placing your wager on a Cricket match, here are some of the strategies we’d recommend to set yourself on the right path.

• Study the line-up and the players

Before betting on a Cricket match, pay close attention to which teams are competing against each other. You then want to consider the history between these two teams as well as the individual players. Compare the qualities of the teams and their players. For example, one team might have more great batsmen and fast runners compared to the other team, however if they also have a combination of left- and right-handed batting, this can be more difficult for the bowler than a team that has all right-handed batsmen. It’s essential to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages each team has.

• Pay attention to weather predictions

When a sport involves the hitting and/or bowling of a ball, just like Cricket, weather can have a big impact on the outcome of the game. For example, wind can alter the speed of a ball when thrown or the acceleration of the ball once hit. Rain can also impact the conditions of the pitch, making it harder to play in some stadiums, and favouring batters in others.

• Take advantage of live betting

Live betting allows you to quickly react to what’s happening in a game. This can give you more insight into the outcomes of certain markets and allow you to make a more informed decision. You may also find that a betting site will offer better odds after the game has started than if you had bet pre-match. For example, when betting on Cricket, it is a good idea to bet on the money line straight after the first ball. This is because the odds often become more valuable at this point.

Key Cricket Tournaments And Competitions

There are plenty of opportunities for betting on Cricket throughout the year with a wide array of tournaments and competitions taking place. These are just a few to look out for:

The Ashes is a series played every two years between England and Australia.

The ICC Cricket World Cup is held every four years and is a key international Cricket event.

The Indian Premier League Cup, also known as the IPL, is the biggest domestic tournament in global Cricket with players from all over the world.

The Hundred is an action-packed competition consisting of both men’s and women’s teams from England and Wales.