In recent years we’ve seen a dramatic increase in the popularity of cricket betting at online sportsbooks but we’ve realised that many people are still unsure how to bet on cricket and the nuances of the sport.
We want to set that straight so in the below guide we discuss important things about cricket sports betting including the bet types, pros and cons, considerations for your bets, and strategies. We also give you some awesome tips so you can hop onto a sportsbook and place your first bet with confidence.
When we look at how to bet on cricket, the actual process is exactly the same as any other sport. You login to your sportsbook account, head to the cricket section, select a match, and then make your betting selections. If you know the basics of sports betting and have experience betting on other sports, you should have no problem transitioning to cricket.
The main differences are the types of cricket bets, the research you need to do, and the cricket betting strategies you can employ. Below, we’ve started by explaining the most common types of cricket bets:
Bet Type
Explanation
Moneyline
Picking the outright winner of the match
Innings runs
How many runs a team will get during an innings
Innings wickets
How many wickets the opposing team will take during an innings
Top batsman/bowler
Pick who will be the best batter or bowler based on runs or wickets
Series winner
Pick the overall winner for a test series with multiple matches
Win toss
Pick who will win the coin toss to chose who is batting or bowling
Batter props
Bet on how many runs different batters will get
Bowler props
Bet on how many wickets bowlers will take
Over scores
Bet on how many runs will be scored in a specific over (6 bowls)
Over/under runs
Pick if a team will score over/under a set run amount for their innings
These are the most common types of cricket bets we’ve found at popular sportsbooks. You can often find more, and there can be things like the man of the match, handicaps, and wickets per over. We think that if you get to grips with the above bets though, you will give yourself a great starting point.
Pros and Cons of Betting on Cricket
Like
spread betting strategy
or other types of betting, betting on cricket isn’t perfect and there are some drawbacks to consider. We’ve given you a basic overview of the pros and cons of cricket betting below:
Pros and Cons
Relatively easy to follow and understand
Most top tournaments are covered
Plenty of stats and research available
Not as good coverage as sports like soccer
In-play betting is not as exciting
Things to Consider When Betting on Cricket
As with a
prop betting strategy, there are things you must consider about each cricket match that can help sway your betting decisions. You must also be willing to do research and go that little bit further to make educated bets. Below, we explain six features we feel are vital to look at when thinking about the outcome of cricket matches.
1. Match Format
You know things like the
fixed odds meaning, but for cricket, you need to understand the different match types. For example, there are test matches and series that are drawn-out events over multiple days, or 20/20 cricket matches which are much shorter and fast paced. Different matches have different bet types and betting opportunities.
2. Historical Team Matchups
Many cricket teams have long standing rivalries and this can make for heated contests. Similarly, some teams historically perform better against certain opponents. When looking at how to bet on cricket, make sure you check the head-to-head matchup results for at least the last five encounters so you have an idea of if one team has the upper hand.
3. Batting Order
The batting order is the order of which the batters will take to the field and attempt to score runs. It starts with the No. 1 and 2 batters, and when one of them is out, the next batter in the order takes to the wicket. We believe it’s important to understand the batting order as this can impact things like the number of runs, and the potential score a team might get during an innings.
4. Bowling Order
Similarly, it’s also important to look at the bowling order and what types of bowlers there are. Compare this with the batters and look if any batters have weaknesses against a particular type of bowling action. For example, a batter might not be great when facing a true spin bowler.
5. Player Injuries
No matter the sport, injuries always have the potential to impact the outcome of a match and this holds true for cricket betting. Always make sure you look at the team roster and see if there are any glaring absences. For example, if a team’s premier bowler is injured and unavailable, perhaps this could reduce their chances of winning?
6. Match Location and Conditions
Cricket matches are played all over the world and often in different conditions. Games are never typically played when it’s raining, but different humidity levels and heat can have an impact on teams and players that aren’t used to harsher conditions.
Simple Tips for Effective Betting on Cricket Strategy
We’ve got guides on things like
straight betting explained
and other terminologies that could be relevant to how to bet on cricket, but in this section we’ve used our knowledge to give you specific cricket betting tips. Together with the above features we mentioned, these tips should help you make logical choices and be more effective with your bankroll management.
📊 Historical Stats
On most cricket betting sites you can find historical batter and bowler stats for the different players. By looking at these you can gain a clear picture of the average runs batters get, and the average wickets bowlers take. All of this information is invaluable and can help you make more effective bets.
🤔 Matchup Considerations
Consider batter/bowler matchups and bowler types. Some batters can cope better with specific bowler types. For example, medium/fast bowlers are often preferred by batsmen as the bowling is usually straight and true, and they can cope easier with the speed, as opposed to the random bounce and awkward movements of spin bowling. Make sure that you are aware of the different bowlers and the types of bowling they typically use.
💰 Betting Strategy
Never bet 100% of your bankroll. We always leave at least 30% of our bankroll at any one time when betting on cricket, or on any sport. Unless you want to keep making more deposits, using 100% of your available balance is never a good idea. By keeping a 25-30$ buffer zone, you always have something to play with and can have more enjoyment in the long run.
🚀 Start Small
Start with small bets until you gain confidence. If you are completely new to cricket betting, or sports betting in general, we recommend that you only start with small bet values. For example, you might only want to place $1-5 bets on moneyline selections. We know that this isn’t as exciting, but it allows you to spread your deposit money further and get accustomed to how cricket betting works.
Head to the Wicket and Give Cricket Betting a Try
If you’re a fan of the sport then we hope you’ve found this guide on how to bet on cricket useful. Those who already have knowledge of the sport and follow the teams and matches should find it relatively easy to place their first bet. The key is picking the right sportsbook and researching your bets first. We’ve got a range of recommendations of US sportsbooks you can sign up to via the links and banners on this page so please check them out.
Once you’ve got started at one of the online sportsbooks, make sure you also look at the welcome bonus and other promos the site has. You might be able to get some free bets or a risk-free bet that you can use on upcoming cricket matches. Finally, as with any type of sports betting, remember to be strategic, research the matches, but most of all, have fun.
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How to Bet on Cricket FAQs
Compared to other sports we think that cricket betting is easier as there generally isn’t as many bet types to consider. Oftentimes you will be placing outright winner bets or things relating to the batters and bowlers.
You need to register an account with a licensed online sportsbook. Once you’ve done that, you need to deposit some funds into your account. You can then go to the cricket section, pick a match, and add a selection to your bet slip.
There is no way you can guarantee a win when betting on cricket. You can do your research though and think about things like player performance, match conditions, the match type, injuries, and the batting and bowling order.
