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Beginners Guide to Cricket Betting

If you are new to Cricket betting and want to learn more about making predictions on this sport, you are in the right place. In the beginners' guide to betting on Cricket matches below, you will learn all the essential things to make your winning strategies and understand the basics of the game.

Kristiyan Kyulyunkov
By Kristiyan Kyulyunkov
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  3. Betting on Cricket
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Many excellent sportsbook platforms offer cricket betting markets. It’s not hard to find great cricket betting bookmakers and their tonnes of resources which will help you compare the various betting sites. It’s important to always make sure that your chosen sportsbook is fully licensed by a credible authority before giving away any personal details or making a deposit.

Understanding the Rules

Cricket comes in many different forms, but some things are consistent among each. The sport is played with a bat and a ball at a ‘ground’ between two teams of 11. A reserve player, known as the ‘twelfth man’, is also available in case of injury. This player can only field and cannot perform any other function in the team.

The game aims to score runs and stop the opposition from scoring runs by batting or putting out. The traditional form of cricket is known as ‘test cricket’.

Each game is refereed by two umpires, with a third off-field umpire monitoring video decisions.

How is Cricket Played?

  • Batting and Bowling
    There are several different ways in which a team can score a run:
  • No Ball
    These can occur for several different reasons, including bowling the ball from an illegal place, bowling a dangerous ball, bowling a ball that bounces twice or more, or having fielders standing in the wrong positions.

    Batsmen are allowed to hit a no-ball and score runs from it. They will only be out if they are run out, hit the ball multiple times, handle the ball, or obstruct the field. Runs scored from a no-ball are gained, as is one additional run for the occurrence of a no ball.
  • Wide Ball
    Suppose the umpire adjudges that the batsman did not have a reasonable chance to score from the delivery. In that case, a wide ball will be given. Deliveries that go over the batsman’s head are considered no balls, not wide balls. The strictness of wide ball call varies depending on the version of cricket being played.

    Wide deliveries add a run to the batting team plus any further runs scored by the batsman. Batsmen cannot be ‘got out’ from a wide ball unless they are run out, stumped, handle the ball, their wicket is hit, or obstruct the field.
  • Bye and Leg Byes
    When a ball isn’t deemed a no ball, or a wide ball passes the striking batsman, runs are recorded, and this is known as a goodbye.

    A leg by results when runs are scored by hitting the batsman, and the ball isn’t deemed a no ball or a wide ball. No runs are scored if the batsman doesn’t attempt to play the shot.

Different Types of Wicket

cricket equipment

There are several different ways in which a batsman can be given out. A bowler getting a batsman out is known as a wicket. Here are the ways a wicket can be achieved:

  • Bowled Out
    If the ball is bowled at the wickets and removes at least one bail, the batter is bowled out. Whether the ball touches the bat, gloves or body of the batsman is not relevant. The ball cannot touch another player before hitting the wickets.
  • Caught Out
    If a batsman touches the ball with their bat or glove, they can be caught out. Fielders, wicket-keepers, and the bowler are all able to catch the ball. If someone catches the ball without a bounce, the batter is caught out.
  • Leg Before Wicket (LBW)
    If the ball hits the batsman without the bat hitting it, an LBW may be given. This is the case if the umpire decides that the ball will hit the wickets if the batsman was not in the way. The ball must not be bowled towards the leg side of the wicket. If the ball hits the batsman but they are not in the line of the stump, the batsman is not out.
  • Stumped
    When the wicketkeeper knocks down the wicket whilst the batsman is out of their crease and not trying a run, they can be given out. This is known as being stumped.
  • Run Out
    If no part of the batsman’s body or the bat is grounded behind the popping crease when the ball is in play, and the wicket is put down by the fielding team, they are run out.
  • Hit Wicket
    Knocking the wicket with the bat or body will result in a hit wicket as long as the bowler has entered their delivery stride. A hit wicket is also the result if the wicket is knocked when setting off for a run.
  • Handled the Ball
    Willingly handling the ball with a hand that’s not on the bat will result in the batsman being given out.
  • Timed Out
    Incoming batsmen must be ready within three minutes of the last batsman being dismissed. Failing to be so will result in being timed out.
  • Hitting the Ball Twice
    Hitting the ball more than once is not allowed unless protecting wickets.
  • Obstructing the Field
    Willingly obstructing the opposition is not allowed, whether this is verbally or physically.

Basic Terms

There are several essential terms in cricket betting that are worth knowing. As long as you have familiarised yourself with the sport, these terms should be easy to understand.

1st Over Total Runs

Anyone familiar with the over/under market will pick this up quickly. This betting market asks you to predict whether the first over’s total runs will be over or under a specified number.

1st Wicket Method

This is another betting market. The 1st wicket method asks you to predict how the first wicket will be taken. The six options available to you are caught out, bowled out, LBW stumped, run out, and others.

Batsman Matches

This is yet another betting market. Here, you must predict which batsman will score the most runs.

Dead Heat

When there are two or more winners in a given bet. In this case, the bet is worth half the wager.

Futures

Any bet placed on a future event’s outcome.

Point Spread

Point spreads feature handicaps for the stronger side. This balances out the odds from a betting perspective. The stronger side will have to win by a greater points margin to win the bet.

To Win the Toss

A betting market where you choose which team you think will win the pre-match coin toss. A bit of fun and not to be taken seriously.

Cricket Formats – How Many Types of Cricket Exist?

There are many different types of cricket, and you may be wondering what the differences are between each. This next section will briefly detail the main differences between these various forms of cricket.

Twenty20

This is a shortened version of cricket that was introduced relatively recently, back in 2003. There is just one set of innings per team of 20 overs maximum each. It is one of three forms of International Cricket Council (ICC) recognised cricket.

First Class

This version of cricket is longer than Twenty20 and lasts at least three days. This is one of the highest-standard forms of cricket.

Limited Overs Cricket

This form of cricket is also known as List A cricket. This is a one-day type of cricket that can sometimes last eight hours. This form of cricket includes One Day Internationals (ODIs).

How to bet on Cricket?

Anyone who likes cricket and wants to bet on the sport must follow a few basic steps. We know that most of you are probably aware of them, but let’s take a good look at each one.

  • Pick the best site for betting on cricket – You don’t need to spend hours trying to find the best cricket betting site because all of our recommendations are amazing. We suggest checking each one and choosing one of them.
  • Sign Up – Head to the bookie of your choice, and look for “Register”, “Join” or something else. After selecting the option, you will need to fill in the registration form by completing each step.
  • Deposit – After you log in, it’s probably a good idea to open the deposit section. The bookie will show you all of the eligible payment gateways in your country, so pick one of them. Remember to check the limits before depositing.
  • Research the cricket betting options – Some of you have done your research beforehand and know what to bet on, but others haven’t done that. No matter which group you fall into, go to the sportsbook and research all of the cricket betting opinions. Check the markets and their odds, and choose what you want to punt on.
  • Place the bet – By tapping on your selected cricket betting market, the latter will be added to the bet slip. From there, the next step is to choose the amount you wish to use for the given bet and place it. Once done, finalize your bet and wait to see what will happen.

We also recommend verifying your account so you can have the best possible experience. Most bookies will require you to do that before withdrawing your winnings, but we recommend doing it beforehand. Also, don’t forget to check the different bonuses because cricket is a popular sport, and you may find unique promotions.

Cricket Bets – A Real-Life Example

We want to show you how to place a bet on cricket as fast as possible, so for the purpose of this example, we have chosen Stake. The latter is one of the “big players” in cricket betting, so it has a lot more options than usual. There were several ongoing events, but we have decided to punt on the Pakistan Super League.

The match we chose was between Quetta Gladiators and Karachi Kings. The “Main” section of markets inside Stake offered a few options, but we chose Total Sixes with the following odds:

  • Over 15.5 – 1.94
  • Under 15.5 – 1.77

Our team has been monitoring these two teams for weeks and decided to bet on Over 15.5. We’ve wagered with $100, so a win will give us $194.

Which Are the Most Popular Competitions?

cricket game player

Cricket has a lot of variation in its competitions. These attract many fans and bettors across the globe. The following competitions are some of the most highly regarded and popular in the sport.

ICC Cricket World Cup

The ICC Cricket World Cup is considered to be the biggest and best cricket tournament. The competition is held every four years, and teams qualify for the event via performance in the ODI Championship. The host nation is guaranteed a spot in the tournament. There is also a qualifier tournament to choose the final team.

The ICC Cricket World Cup format sees each team play each other in a group of 10 where the top four progress to the knock-out rounds.

The Ashes

Another one of the most lauded cricket competitions on the planet is the Ashes. The competition is contested by historic rivals England and Australia. The competition takes place every two years, and the host alternates between the two competing sides. Five tests attract viewers and bettors from all over the world, not just England and Australia. You will likely find this event on cricket betting sites in the USA, for example.

T20 World Cup

This high-energy, shortened version of cricket has a World Cup that was first hosted in 2007 by South Africa. India won the inaugural trophy. There are 16 teams, and the tournament takes place every two years.

Games are made up of 20 overs, with each game resulting in a winner via either runs or super overs. The T20 World Cup has gained a lot of popularity in a relatively short space of time. It features a great accessible version of cricket for novices.

Indian Premier League

The biggest domestic cricket league is the Indian Premier League (IPL). This league attracts audiences from all over the world thanks to its high-quality teams and players.

The quality of games played in the IPL is right up there, which is no surprise given India’s standing in the international cricket world. The league only lasts for two months each year, but many buzzes are generated around it when it is taking place.

Short History and Facts

Cricket has been an enduringly popular sport thanks to a global fanbase and a set of top competitions. Several historically successful nations in the sport, including India, Australia, England, Pakistan, and the West Indies.

The sport has adapted over the years, but the level of engagement from fans has rarely dropped. Bettors flock to the biggest cricket events. It isn’t difficult to find the betting markets for the best competitions out there.

Final Thoughts

Betting on cricket is similar to betting on any sports where knowledge and attention to detail will help inform your betting selections. The more you are on the ball regarding competitions, betting markets, and trends, the better your bets are likely to be. It’s good to get to know relevant betting terminology to further understand the markets available and which selections to opt for.

There are plenty of great resources out there with cricket betting tips to help you spot value cricket betting selections. An experience is an invaluable tool in sports betting, so don’t be discouraged if your first few bets don’t come off. Look out for statistics and always evaluate the bets you make.

FAQs

How to bet on a cricket match?

Having a strong grasp of the rules is a crucial starting point. Once you are well-acquainted with these, familiarise yourself with betting terminology around the sport to get you ready for cricket match betting.

What is the punishment for cricket betting in India?

The penalty for gambling in India is a fine of up to 200 rupees or a short prison sentence. However, there are many grey areas, so this is worth looking at in detail.

How to understand cricket betting rates?

There are lots of great resources that will help you get to grips with the ins and outs of cricket betting and cricket betting rates. The more you expose yourself to betting information, the quicker you will grasp it.

Can I bet on cricket using an app?

Yes, you can find plenty of sportsbook apps where online cricket betting is made easy with odds and rates all in one place. These will often include markets where live cricket betting is possible.

What competitions should I bet on?

Betting on the cricket World Cup is probably the most popular event for many. IPL cricket betting is also another avenue worth exploring.

Author
Kristiyan Kyulyunkov
Kristiyan KyulyunkovKristiyan Kyulyunkov specializes in bookmakers’ analyses. He has years of experience betting online and always keeps an eye on the different operators. His tasks in Nostrabet include writing, editing and publishing expert reviews.