Betting Strategy Guide
How to Bet on Cricket
Key takeaways
- Cricket has three main formats: Test matches of up to five days, One Day Internationals of 50 overs a side and T20 matches of 20 overs a side.
- Of the three formats, only Test matches can end in a draw, so a Test match winner market has three outcomes.
- When rain cuts overs from a limited-overs match, a mathematical method sets a revised target, and ties or no-results are settled under the house rules.
To bet on cricket, you pick the team that wins a match, or bet on a player or on the runs scored. The format decides which markets make sense: a five-day Test and a 20-over T20 are very different bets.
The three formats
| Format | Length | Can it end in a draw? |
|---|---|---|
| Test | Up to five days, two innings per side | Yes |
| One Day International (ODI) | 50 overs per side | No |
| T20 | 20 overs per side | No |
Limited-overs matches can still end in a tie or, if weather stops play, with no result.
Match winner
In ODIs and T20s the match winner is a two-way market, like a moneyline. In Tests it has three outcomes, because the draw is a common result. Take a Test priced Team A +120, Team B +250, draw +200: a $100 bet on Team A wins $120, and a $50 bet on the draw wins $100. The implied probabilities are 45.5%, 28.6% and 33.3%. How a tie or a no-result is settled varies, so check the house rules.
Player and runs markets
- Top batter: the player who scores the most runs for a team.
- Top bowler: the player who takes the most wickets for a team.
- Total runs: over or under a set number of runs in an innings or a match. See total betting.
Ties in top batter and bowler markets are often settled under dead-heat rules, which reduce the payout. Markets vary by match.
Rain and revised targets
When rain cuts overs from a limited-overs match, the match officials use a mathematical method that sets a revised target from the overs lost and the wickets the batting side has in hand. A minimum number of overs per side is needed for a result; short of that, the match can end with no result, which affects match winner bets.
What to consider before you bet
- Pitch and conditions: some pitches help spin, others pace, and cloud cover can help swing bowling.
- The toss: batting or bowling first can matter, especially when dew or a wearing pitch is expected.
- Weather: lost time raises the chance of a draw in a Test.
- Format: players who thrive in T20 may not do the same in Tests.
Learn how to read betting odds, and look up general terms in the betting dictionary.
Betting at Betcris Arizona
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can a cricket match end in a draw?
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Of the three main formats, only Test matches can. One Day Internationals and T20s can end in a tie or with no result, but not a draw.
What happens to my bet if a cricket match is rained off?
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If a match ends with no result, match winner bets are commonly void and stakes returned. Check the house rules for the exact treatment.
How do you bet on a Test match?
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The match winner market has three outcomes: either team or the draw. Weather and pitch conditions are worth considering because they affect how likely a draw is.
What is a top batter bet?
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A bet on which player scores the most runs for a team. If players tie, dead-heat rules may reduce the payout.
