Sports betting has evolved over the years, not only with the introduction of exotic sports and other unknown sporting codes. The internet has also made sports betting more accessible, we no longer have to rely on sports bookies because the whole system has become self-service. Because online betting sports like Kabbadi have become more popular, there is even a new genre of eSports. But with this article, we will focus solely on online cricket betting.
Cricket Formats
There are various formats in which the sport is played depending on the number of innings/overs or the balls that are to be bowled.
- One Day International or ODI’s as they are normally referred to are international games played in two innings. Each team only bats once and the games can last over eight hours with overs going to 30 and beyond.
- Test Cricket is considered one of the best ways to enjoy the sport. It lasts longer with games played over days, each bat team per match, and batting continues until the team is bowled out.
- T20 cricket has become very popular over the past couple of years. Cricket fans who love test cricket have not accepted this format. But it is a great one for punters. There is a maximum of 20 overs per team.
Cricket Events To Participate In
There are several cricket events throughout the year, there is no longer the traditional cricket season because of the different continental seasons. The most watched and most popular cricket events are:
- IPL (Indian Premier League) – the league is based on the T20 format and has been around since 2008. Even though it is staged in India it has become international because the teams are made up of international players.
- Big Bash League (BBL) – this Australian championship consists of eight teams and is also based on the T20 format. Launched in 2011 this championship is growing in popularity in the cricket betting world. For those starting in cricket betting the BBL would be an ideal place to start as it’s shorter and simpler to understand.
- ICC Cricket World Cup – this tournament has been around since 1975 and is staged every four years by both the men’s and women’s sides. The world cup is among the most competitive championships. Since 2009 there has been the T20 world cup format as well, the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is currently underway in South Africa. If you want to join in the betting action you can still place your wagers.
Selecting Your Team
Now that you are familiar with the formats and events it’s time to choose your team. The first mistake people make is to bet on their favourite team. As much as you love your local or even national team, don’t make bets based on emotion or patriotism. Look at their track record, how well have they been playing until now, and how well the team plays together. Are there external factors that could jeopardise their performance, things such as injuries, pending court cases, and troubling personal problems? And if you are betting in a test series or World Cup you can choose more than one team.
Types of Bets
There are different types of bets you can place, the market is virtually endless, let us break down the most common ones you will find on most betting sites.
- Outright Market
As the name implies here you are betting on who the winner will be. It could be a test series, ODI, T20 tournament, or even the World Cup, your bet is on the champion at the end of it all.
- Special bets
This kind of betting works for all kinds of matches and events. Special bets include coin toss bets or most sixes/fours. You can even bet on the outcome of the first ball, will it be a six/four or a duck?
- Player Bets
Here you are wagering on the individual player’s performance rather than the team, Hashim Amla was one of the greatest batsmen of all time while Harshal Patel is known to be a superb bowler. Player bets include categories like:
- Top Bowler
- Top Batsman
- Most Wickets
- Most Run
- Innings
With innings you are predicting the number of runs a team will make in the first batting session, it doesn’t have to be an exact match. For example in a match between England and Australia, you may predict that England’s run rate will be over 3.5 if their final run rate is 5 then you win.
Common Mistakes
- Betting without a budget
Before even registering on an online site you should have a clear bankroll strategy, doing this will prevent you from spending money you don’t have or even going into debt. Set a daily/weekly or monthly cap of how much you can spend irrespective of wins or losses. Stick to your budget and review it consistently to see if you are not overspending.
- Check the weather
This may seem trivial but adverse weather conditions play an important role in cricket matches. A game can be delayed by hours because of rain just like the Women’s T20 Ireland vs India game (21.02.2023) and if you are live betting this could affect your outcomes. Even good weather conditions can have an impact on the outcomes of the game, things like wind speed, humidity can affect bowlers and fielders.
- Not comparing odds
Be patient and take time to compare odds before settling on a particular sportsbook, with cricket the odds are normally better for future bets rather than live bets.
- Following the hype
While it’s good to follow cricket experts and listen to tips from professionals, don’t always follow the trends. Do your research, watch the games, read up on the teams’ form and playing ability, listen to post-match analysis, and then make up your mind.
Finally
Now that you know how online cricket betting works all you need to do is find a reputable sportsbook online and register. Once you have made your first deposit you can place your first bet, most online casinos offer specific sportsbook bonuses as well. If you’re looking for fast payouts in Australian casino markets, you can start here.