Want to try your luck with cricket betting but don’t know where to start? This article breaks down all the essentials, from the different match formats to the most common types of bets, empowering you to participate with confidence.
Understanding Cricket Match Formats
Cricket features several different formats of play, each with its unique set of rules and duration:
- Test Match: The longest format of cricket, typically played over 5 days between 2 of the 12 recognized Test-playing nations. When placing bets, you’ll consider four potential outcomes: home team win, away team win, draw (the match concludes without a winner), or tie (a very rare instance where both teams score the exact same number of runs).
- One Day International (ODI): These matches are limited to 50 overs per innings for each international team. A white ball and colored uniforms are used.
- Twenty20 (T20): A shorter and faster-paced format where each team bowls 20 overs. T20 enjoys widespread popularity in both domestic and international leagues, such as the Indian Premier League (IPL). A white ball and colored uniforms are also standard in T20.
- The Hundred: An even more condensed version of T20, with each team bowling 100 balls (delivered in sets of 10). A white ball and colored attire remain the norm.
- T10: An even briefer format than T20, with each team bowling just 10 overs. T10 matches are often played on synthetic pitches, utilizing a white ball and colored clothing.
Most Popular Cricket Betting Markets
Here are the common types of bets you’ll encounter in cricket betting:
- Match Winner: A straightforward bet on the team you predict will win the match. For Test Matches, a “Draw” option is also available. In limited-overs games, a tie is typically treated as a “push,” and your stake is refunded.
- Draw No Bet: A bet placed on either team to win. If the match ends in a draw, your bet is refunded.
- Toss Winner: A bet on which team will win the coin toss preceding the match. Odds are generally similar for both teams.
- Match Completed: A “Yes” bet if the match reaches a definitive result (win, loss, or draw), and a “No” bet if the match is abandoned without an official outcome.
- Tie: A bet on the possibility of the match ending with both teams achieving precisely the same score. This is an infrequent betting option.
Team-Based Betting Options
You can also wager on the overall performance of a team:
- Highest Opening Partnership: A bet on which team will accumulate the most runs before the fall of their first wicket. Some bookmakers might include a “Tie” option.
- Top Team Batsman/Batswoman: A bet on the player within a specific team who will score the highest number of individual runs in the match.
- Highest First 6 Overs: A bet on which team will score the most runs during their initial 6 overs of batting.
- First Ball Outcome: A bet predicting what will occur on the very first delivery of the match (e.g., no run – dot ball, 1 run, leg bye, 4 runs, wicket, etc.).
- First Innings 50: A “Yes” or “No” bet on whether any batsman will score at least 50 runs in the first innings of a Test Match.
- Total Runs in First Innings: A bet forecasting the total number of runs to be scored in the first innings, often presented as “Over/Under” a specified figure.
- Most Run Outs: A bet on the team that will have the most players dismissed via “run out.”
- Most Fours/Sixes: A three-way bet on which team will hit the most four-run boundaries or six-run boundaries during their innings. The possible outcomes are Team A, Team B, or Tie.
- Total Fours/Sixes in Match: An “Over/Under” bet on the cumulative number of four-run boundaries or six-run boundaries scored throughout the entire match.
Individual Player Betting Options
You can also place wagers on the performance of specific players:
- Method of First Wicket: A bet on how the first batsman will be dismissed (e.g., bowled, caught, stumped, run out, LBW, or other).
- Top Batsman/Batswoman – Team A/Team B: Similar to the team-based bet, but specifically focusing on the highest-scoring batsman/batswoman for a designated team.
- Top Batsman/Top Batswoman: A bet on which player from either team will achieve the highest total score in the match (typically considering only the first innings for Test Matches).
- To Score 50 Runs: A “Yes” or “No” bet on whether a particular player will reach a score of at least 50 runs in a limited-overs match.
- Top Bowler – Team A/Team B: A bet on the bowler who will take the most wickets for a given team.
- Player of the Match: A straightforward bet on the individual who will be awarded the Player of the Match accolade.
- To Score X Runs: A bet on whether a named player will score a specific number of runs or more.
These represent just a selection of the most prevalent bet types in cricket. Depending on the betting platform and the specific match format, you may encounter a wider array of betting opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cricket Betting Terminology
- What are the different formats of cricket played? Currently, numerous formats exist, including Test Matches, 50 Over, T20, T10, The Hundred, First Class, and 40 Overs.
- What are the international cricket match formats? The ICC officially recognizes three international formats: Test Matches, One Day Internationals (ODIs), and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is).
- How many countries are eligible to play Test cricket? Twelve nations are currently eligible to play Test Cricket: Australia, England, South Africa, West Indies, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Ireland, and Afghanistan.
- Where is the home ground of the Afghanistan cricket team? The Shahid Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex in Greater Noida, India, serves as the official home ground for the Afghanistan national cricket team. They also host home matches in the UAE due to security concerns in Afghanistan.
Hopefully, this guide has equipped you with the fundamental knowledge needed to confidently begin your journey into cricket betting!