What are the betting strategies in cricket and how do I make money betting on cricket?

Essentially there are three general criteria in cricket betting – overall tournament, individual match, and in-play. But those three general headings splinter into dozens if not hundreds of options.

Tournament Betting

Here you are identifying an overall winner in a set category for the competition as a whole. This might be Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, for example, who you might find available at 3.50 to win the whole thing. Or it could be picking Virat Kohli to be the top run scorer at the World Cup.

• Pros: It’s a long bet and will give you plenty of entertainment along the way. One for the casual gambler.
• Cons: It’s a long bet (see what we did there?!) and as such is susceptible to a huge number of variables which you may not have anticipated when laying down your money.

Individual match betting

This is where it starts to get more detailed. As well as the general bets such as match winner, you’ll be able to see odds on more niche markets such as first 10-over match-up (who scores most runs in first 10 overs), mode of first dismissal and handicap betting (where the underdog will receive a notional head start from the bookmaker).

• Pros: There’s a huge variety of options and, with proper research, you’re bound to find market value somewhere.
• Cons. There a huge variety of options (yep, we did it again!) and it can be easy to get lost in them and making unnecessary bets. Make sure you spend time picking the right markets. If you can’t explain why you’ve placed money on an eventuality, don’t place money on it.

In-play betting

The most frantic and frenetic of the cricket betting brotherhood, in-play moves fast and can be highly lucrative. Odds can be found on number of runs off the next ball, mode of next dismissal and total runs (the spread for which will routinely change as the game goes on).

• Pros: It offers an intense gambling experience. Knowledgeable gamblers might be able to identify gaps in the algorithms employed by bookmakers to create live, changing odds.
• Cons: It is very easy to lose money very quickly with poorly informed decisions. You’ll need to be watching the game, too, to make sure you have the best possible understanding of the situation (If you are watching via a stream the time delay can also get in the way).

For a full list of the most popular markets in cricket, click here.

So what should I bet on?

Take your time to decide; ultimately it has to be your decision and everyone has their own favourite. Browse the betting websites – some of our selections can be found here – and figure out which option is best for you.

How do I win money?

Simply put, successful gamblers need more than pure luck to be profitable. You need to have a very good understanding of the subject you’re getting on. Do your research: look into form, location, weather conditions and head-to-head records.
And remember our three key questions…

What is the format?

In Test, 50-over and T20 cricket the betting markets will shift dramatically and you’ll have to as well. Many more runs will be anticipated in Tests, and centuries and five-fors are much more common. Methods of dismissal will be much more varied in the shorter formats and run outs more common. There’s no point betting on a tie in T20 and ODIs but when it comes to first-class cricket a draw (there is a difference in the definition) is much more likely. Make sure you analyze how different formats affect the teams you are gambling on – there is no guarantee that a decent ODI side will be anywhere near as consistent in Tests. Take England for example – brilliant in the 50-over format yet highly unpredictable in the longest version of the game.

Who is playing?

Know your team news. Read the media, find out who is injured and who is likely to be dropped. Find out if a player has just had a baby, if his place is in danger of if he’s been outspoken in the press. Compare likely lineups and see where one side has the one up on another. In 2018, Laurie Evans had a better T20 average than anyone else in the world (over 80) and was striking at better than 145 runs per 100 balls. But against left-arm spin, he was striking at 101 with an average in the low 20s. What did the first two opponents of his PSL franchise Multan Sultans do? Stuck a pair of left-arm spinners in their teams. As a gambler you need to think like an analyst.

Where is the game being played?

Different stadiums, different times of day and night and different color balls will all contribute to the likelihood of certain results – from the overall game to the chances of a bowler claiming the most wickets.
Cloud cover can enable swing, which may lead to more lbws as batsmen struggle to pick the line of the ball, for instance. A white Kookaburra ball is generally less likely to move in the air, meanwhile, than a red Duke’s and is harder so comes off the bat faster.
If a pitch is known to turn and a specific batsman is not good against the spinning ball, that is a crucial fact to know.