Cricket is known as a complex and strategic sport. On the other hand, cricket betting is much simpler and easier. Once the principles of cricket betting are understood, bettors can look for valuable cricket betting opportunities in different match types. Read on to find out how to bet on cricket.
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Understanding the different types of matches
The rules are the same in all the different types of cricket. For cricket betting, the point is that there are different rules that apply. Each style of play has different batting “innings” (the number of balls hit) and “bowling wheels” (the number of pitches the batsman faces).
The following is a brief description of each style:
| Test Cricket | Each team has two innings and the results are decided within five days (International) or four days (County/Club) |
| One Day Cricket (ODI’s) | Matches are completed in one day with 40 or 50 “bowling wheels” |
| T20 Cricket | A modern form of cricket with a limited number of bowling wheels, with each team having only 20 “bowling wheels” to bat on |
Because of the different styles, different teams and players specialize in different styles. For example, “heavy” batsmen are good at 20-wicket matches (scoring more runs in a short period of time), while more cautious batsmen are good at top-order matches because they are less likely to get out.
What are the factors to consider when betting on cricket
Some cricket teams are good at attacking and some are good at defending, meaning that some teams are better at batting and some teams are better at bowling.
Looking at each team’s lineup will help bettors determine if they tend to score as many runs as possible against their opponents, or if they focus on bowling and getting their opponents out as quickly as possible.
When learning how to bet on cricket, there is one primary point to consider: external factors that can affect the outcome of a cricket match. These external factors include the weather, the time of the game and the ground conditions of the pitch.
As with soccer betting, some teams have a home advantage over others, in part because of the importance of the pitch surface and how the team maintains it to maximize its strengths.
Cricket teams use a variety of bowlers, and different types of bowling apply to different types of “three-poster wickets”. Some tri-post wickets are wetter than others; the ground varies in softness and the amount of grass. As a matter of principle, bettors should consider the following types of wickets.
| Wicket type | Suitable for |
| Flat wicket goal | Hitters – can easily see the trajectory of the ball |
| Turf wicket goal | Fastball Pitchers – Ball flight bounces off the seams after landing |
| Dry wicket goal | Spin Pitchers – Broken trajectory, ball spins violently upon landing |
Cricket is more susceptible to weather than many other sports, as it cannot be played in the rain. In addition, sunlight makes the three-poster gate drier, while rainy areas make the gate more humid and the grass more dense.
How to bet on cricket
To sum up the principles of cricket betting, the first thing a bettor should do is to understand the rules of the game. Then the bettor should understand the differences in the style of play and what different teams and players specialize in. Finally, an analysis of the fairways and weather conditions will help to determine the likely outcome of the match.