Cricket Betting: How to Hit the Bookies for Six

With origins in 16th century England, Cricket is one of the oldest and most traditional of the widely played and watched sports - when measured by the number of participants – be they players or spectators – cricket lies only behind football in global popularity. This booming popularity stems from growth on the Indian sub-continent - where the thud of leather on willow resounds more regularly than anywhere else.

Cricket is also a sport that has changed significantly over the years. The grand spectacle of the five-day international test match continues to enthral - but with the advent of one-day matches, Twenty20, and the lucrative Indian Premier League, this game with such archaic beginnings is now not far from being a 365-day sport.

With popularity comes extensive TV coverage and, of course, the main focus of this article – betting; be it fixed odds, betting in play or on the spreads markets, few games are such a natural betting fit as cricket.

Cricket Formats

Before examining the types of bets, we will outline the formats of the game, both on the international and domestic stage.

• Test Matches - Played over up to five days, with each side having two innings at bat, test cricket is the traditional and - for many purists at least – still the best form of the game: The most famous cricket game in the world – the Ashes Series between England and Australia – is played in the test format, whilst, the County Championship in England uses a four-day version of test cricket.
• One-Day Matches - As the name suggests, these fixtures are completed in a day, with each side batting for a maximum of 50 overs, and, unlike in test cricket, there are certain fielding restrictions designed to aid the scoring of runs: The prestigious ICC Champions Trophy and ICC Cricket World Cup are each played in this format.
• Twenty20 - Fast and furious action, with each side having only twenty overs to rack up a winning score. In common with One Day cricket, fielding restrictions are enforced to provide a more entertaining spectacle, and the relatively short duration makes this form of the game popular with fans and TV companies. Most major cricketing nations now boast a T20 competition, with the Indian Premier League being the most prestigious and lucrative

Having now outlined the modern cricketing landscape, what exactly can we bet on? As with most sports, the answer is almost anything you can think of - some of the most popular options are:

• Match/Series Result - The simplest and most popular bet; this is a wager on a named team to win an individual match or come out on top in a series of matches. We have two options in One Day and T20 cricket – namely, either side to win – but in test cricket, the draw is a possibility
• Top Run Scorer - A bet on the player you believe will score the most runs in a given match or innings
• Top Wicket Taker - A bet on a named bowler to take the most wickets in a given match or innings
• Total Runs - A bet on whether the run total of a player or team will fall under or over a specified total. The volatility of this form of betting makes it a popular option with spread bettors
• Player of The Match - A bet on which player you believe will be named Man of the Match.

There’s plenty more besides the above - from the number of fours and sixes hit in the game to which opening partnership will record the highest total of runs and everything in between.

Best Value Bets

Lights Out for The Team Batting With The Lights On

In our opinion, this is possibly the number one cricket value bet, and it couldn’t be much more straightforward. If the latter part of the match will play out under floodlights, look to back the team batting first. Not only is the ball that fraction harder for the batsman to make out in an unnatural floodlit environment, but it also tends to swing more later in the day - two factors in favour of the bowlers. This strategy has been backed up by the stats time and time again. Batting first in a game which starts in the day and ends at night is a big advantage.

But Second Can Be Better Than First In The Day Time

Should a limited overs match be slated to take place solely in the daytime, we generally aim to adopt the reverse of the strategy outlined above and lean towards supporting the team batting second. The logic here is that unlike the team batting first, the second batting side will have the luxury of knowing the total they need to reach in order to win, and so adjust their strategy accordingly - playing more aggressively if required, or safe and solid if only a relatively low total is needed. This knowledge of the approach a side needs to take can be worth its weight in gold to the team – and those who have backed them.

In Play the Way To Profit

One thing to remember when betting on a cricket match – particularly a test match – is that the game lasts a very long time. Sometimes, the market will react dramatically to events over a relatively short period – a few wickets in the space of a couple of overs, for example. You can often find solid value backing the side that events are seemingly conspiring against in the short run. More often than not, the match will even up again at some stage and provide a good opportunity to secure a profit – by backing both sides at odds against at different stages of the match.

Betting Strategy Tips: Key Factors

Wait for The Result Of The Toss

In a game where conditions can play such a pivotal role in the outcome, the decision on whether to bat first or second can have a huge bearing on the result of a game. Generally speaking, it is advantageous for a team to bat first due to the wear and tear that the wicket will endure over the course of a game. A worn, scuffed wicket favours the bowlers. By all means, assess the form of the sides and form an opinion on whom you would like to support with a bet in the game, but we recommend waiting for the result of the toss prior to striking that bet. Our personal strategy is to stick with our analysis but to a reduced stake should our side lose the toss and increase the stake correspondingly should the coin come down in our favour.

Check the Weather Forecast

This can be particularly important when betting on shorter formats. Keep an eye on games that the weather forecast strongly suggests may be shortened by rain – and look to support the team batting second.

The result of a cricket match shortened by the weather is decided by a complex mathematical formula known as the Duckworth-Lewis method. This effectively uses the total runs a team has scored, up to the point at which the match is abandoned, to predict what their final total would be had the match reached its conclusion. This works in favour of the team batting second as they can estimate how aggressively they need to play in the likelihood of a shortened match.

Ground Factors

Cricket grounds may all appear to be much of a muchness at first glance but looks can be deceiving. True, the general layout is indeed very similar, but when we look a little deeper, we find that the characteristics of the grounds in the game can be very different indeed. Some wickets respond very well to spin, whilst others seem to barely turn at all. Some tracks are slow, whilst others are quick and bouncy and favour the faster bowlers. Always be sure to assess whether the side you are considering backing will be suited – or otherwise – by the ground at which the match is taking place. As with all things betting – it pays to do your homework.

Form, Form, Form

If a team or player is playing badly or in a slump, the chances are that they will come out of it eventually. As with most sports though, the best guide to how a side will fare in a given match is how they have performed recently. The common-sense approach works best here. Stick to players and teams at or near the top of their game and look to oppose those who can’t seem to buy a run or wicket.

Adopt A Patient Strategy to Leave The Bookies Stumped

Overall, adopting an approach in line with that of a seasoned test batsman can reap its rewards when it comes to betting on cricket - namely, maintaining your patience and discipline whilst being ready to spring into action when the time is right.

With so many matches available, there’s no need to swing at every betting ball. Plan your strategy, wait until the factors – including those outlined above – are in your favour, and you will be well on your way to adding another profitable string to your betting bow.

Other strategies and guides:

• Cricket In Play Betting Guide
• A Guide to Betting on Player Performance at Cricket