Whilst not the most popular sport on the planet, cricket certainly has its fans, and plenty of them. The popularity of the game is defiantly on the up with the emergence of teams such as Kenya, Holland, Ireland and UAE all starting to establish themselves as cricketing nations. This goes hand in hand with the cricket stalwarts such as England, Australia, India, Sri Lanka and South Africa.
The highlight of the one-day international calendar comes in the form of the Cricket World Cup. Similarly to that of football, the Cricket World Cup is held every four years at a selection in ICC approved countries. The high profiled nature of the competition allows for a great spectacle for any cricket bettors to really get stuck in and take advantage of the inflated amounts of markets on offer.
The longer format of Test cricket doesn’t quite have the appeal of the shortened T20 and ODI to the majority of cricket followers, but the diehard fans will argue that Test cricket is as pure as it gets. The Ashes are held between Australia and England every two years and are without doubt one of the fiercest rivalries in not just cricket, but sport as a whole. The 2015 series in England nearly brought the country to a complete stand still with fans and even those that had little prior interest in cricket, engrossed in one of the hardest fought series for years.
There’s no doubt that T20 (20 over) has been the main benefactor behind the recent boom of cricket on a global scale. Whereas Test and even one-day cricket took up long periods of the day, T20 was often over in a couple of hours with a fast paced, high octane format of the game, suited by a wider audience.
The emergence of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has seen the sport taken to the next level. The IPL is a chance for the best players in the world to all play in one tournament for a mixture of teams in what is an almost a ‘fantasy cricket league’. The Indian based teams spend millions of pounds on signing the superstars of the game for the 2 month period each year.
As online betting on a whole is massively increasing, cricket has been a sport which has seen it reach masses of people in a betting format. The coverage is of a scale where there are 50 plus markets available to bet on for one game. Everything from highest run scorer, most wickets, form of dismissal, total runs in a game and man of the match, are all popular markets.
Depending on which bookmaker you decide to place your bets with will ultimately depend on how many markets are available to bet on. As cricket is still very much a growing betting market, using multiple bookmakers to find the best bets and prices is highly recommended.
Cricket is like very few sports in that many different factors can affect the outcome of a game. Let’s look at some tips which you should consider before placing a bet.
Take note of weather conditions – The weather plays a huge role in all formats of cricket, especially test cricket. Different conditions can often favour one team or another. A dry, sunny day will favour the batting team, whilst a damp, overcast day will favour the bowling team. See what the weather conditions are for the duration of the game and make your judgements accordingly.
Select format of the game – With so many variants of cricket (Test match, ODI and T20) it’s important to note which teams do well in which format. Just because a team happens to be the best test nation in the world, does not mean that they will be strong one-day team. Make sure you judge each team on its merit in each respected format.
Try to anticipate – Cricket is a sport which needs a keen eye to see what could happen in the game. You often here commentators say things like “…a couple wickets and they are back in the game” when it appears the batting team is on top. Note the game situation and try to include as many factors as possible before coming to a definite bet.
Before betting on cricket, bettors should understand the rules of the game, the structure of different formats (such as Test, One Day International, and Twenty20), and the strengths and weaknesses of the teams and players involved. Knowledge of recent team performances, player form, and pitch conditions is also essential.
Common types of bets in cricket include match result bets (betting on which team will win), top batsman or bowler bets (wagering on the highest run-scorer or wicket-taker in a match), total runs or wickets (over/under bets), and proposition bets (specific events or outcomes within the game).
Recent team and player performance are crucial for cricket betting. Analyzing recent match results, player statistics, and current form helps bettors predict future performances. Teams and players with strong recent performances are generally more favorable betting options.
Pitch conditions and weather can significantly influence cricket betting. Pitch conditions affect how the ball behaves, which can impact batting and bowling performance. Weather conditions, such as rain or humidity, can also affect the game. Bettors should consider these factors when placing their bets.
Statistical analysis enhances cricket betting by providing insights into player and team performance metrics, such as batting averages, bowling strike rates, and head-to-head records. Using these statistics helps bettors identify trends and make more informed betting decisions.
Successful cricket betting strategies include researching team and player statistics, understanding match conditions and formats, and staying updated on injury reports and team news. Betting on teams and players with consistent performance and favorable conditions can improve betting outcomes.
To manage risk in cricket betting, set a clear budget and adhere to it, avoid placing bets based on emotions, and diversify your bets across different matches and markets. Effective bankroll management and a disciplined approach help mitigate potential losses and manage overall risk.
