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The Sport of Cricket

Behind the Stumps: Cricket Betting Online 

Cricket goes way back to the Seventeenth Century, and like most competitions and sports in particular, if there is a winner, you can guarantee there has been betting. India, South Africa, and Australia have vast cricket betting markets, but that does not mean that bettors in these countries stick to their own competitions. Cricket betting is an international event, with stakes and wagers being cast on all sorts of global competitions. 

Let us begin by looking at some of the most popular cricket competitions you can wager on at leading bookmakers. 

• Test Cricket: The oldest version of the game. Tests are played over five days, with each side batting and bowling twice. Test cricket makes for great accumulators because they can span several days, giving you the chance to bet on the winners of each day. 
• ODI Cricket: Known as One Day Internationals are ideal for straight-up, money line bets. Unlike test cricket, which has 450 overs, ODIs have just 100 overs, making them short, sweet bets for punters. Of course, the objective is to score as high as possible in fifty overs, so betting on overs/unders and totals could be worth it here. 
• T20 Cricket: Twenty20 offers the shortest matches, with just 20 overs each. These types of cricket games are ideal for those who want to bet on league results, perhaps with future bets. The Indian Premier League (or IPL) is one of the most popular forms of T20 cricket markets available. 
• International Competitions: If you like the sound of betting on tournament winners via future bets, then international competitions are arguably the way to go. The Cricket World Cup is a fine example of this, supporting hundreds of potential selections. Moreover, as this competition is not held annually, there is usually a massive following, with great odds available for underdogs.  

• Match Betting: A straightforward bet on whether a team will win, lose, or draw a match. This is also known as a money line or straight-up bet. 
• Completed Match: As anybody familiar with cricket will know, not all matches get done in time. Because of this, you could opt to wager on whether a game will be finished by the time scheduled or not. This is a straightforward bet with only two possible outcomes. 
• Innings and Runs: With this bet, you are wagering on the number of runs scored in the first innings. A typical over/under bet involves betting whether you believe the number of runs posted by the sportsbook will be over or under the amount recorded in the match. 
• Top Bowler/Batsman: In a nutshell, you are wagering on which player you believe will take the most wickets or potentially score the most runs in a match. Alternatively, you can choose to bet on which team will have the top bowler or batsman. By contrast, Bowler/Batsman Match bets allow you to choose from just two options presented by the sportsbook, making things a touch easier for you. However, you will get shorter odds with these than if you pick your own bowler or batsman. 
• Outright Winner: This bet is reserved for tournament gameplay, such as the Cricket World Cup or the winner of the IPL. Here, you are placing a long-term bet on who will wind up the winner of the competition. 
• Series Winner: By contrast, a series winner will determine who wins the most games in a series. You could also opt to wager on the score of the series. This can see you pocket major prizes, but their probability of success is often relatively low. 
• Win Toss: Another two-way bet which involves wagering on which team will win the coin toss at the start of a match. 
• Run Betting: Here, you can bet on which teams total runs will be odd or even numbers. Alternatively, you can opt to bet on which of the two teams will score the most runouts, either in a match or the entire series. 
• Man of the Match: Like in football, it is possible to bet on a Man of the Match. Alternatively, you could choose to wager on the Player of a Series. The latter offers you longer odds, as there is more margin for error. 

While there are far more options than those presented to you above, if you understand and learn what each of these bets means, you will be ideally placed to start betting on cricket at leading sportsbooks today. 

One of the perks of betting on live cricket is that you can see fluctuating odds as the action occurs. While it may not be advantageous to wager on a favourite before a match, that could change if the favourite were to find themselves behind after the first few days of a test. Similarly, if an underdog does well in the first few overs of an ODI, it may be advantageous to place your bet on the favourite later. The fluctuation of odds and odds movement can open doors that you may not have expected. Moreover, many in-play bets allow you to cash out early. If you are currently winning your cricket bet and things look as though they may be about to turn, this is an extremely handy option to have at your disposal. 

Live Stream Major Cricket Events 

Not all leading bookmakers offer you the chance to watch Indian Premier League games and other leading competitions via a live video stream. However, those betting sites that are serious about live in-play bets will provide this service. 

While it is always advised to use stats centres to keep tabs on how a game progresses when you have a bet on it, the ability to watch the matches live trumps that. In many cases, all you need to watch a live cricket match at your favourite bookmaker is a bet. Once you have placed a bet on an eligible game for live streaming, you can join in the action as it unfolds. While there is a slight delay, this is a particularly handy feature to have if you are waiting for the opportune moment to cash out early. 

Here are some of the most common cricket promos you can expect to see at the best online bookmakers: 

• Enhanced Odds: The bookie provides special, one-off, favourable odds, which are better than their competition on selected markets. 
• Money-Back Draw: If you wager on a selected cricket match and it ends up a draw, you will get your money back. 
• Free Bet: The bookmaker allows you to wager on selected bets, and if your bet loses, the bookie will refund you, typically with a free bet. 
• Player/Team Specials: You may find that bookmakers offer enchanted winnings when you place bets on specific players or teams. 

Of course, as all one-off, special cricket promos vary from site to site and are time-based, you should always check the bookmaker’s promotions page to ensure that you see the latest deals. 

Why not check out all the great options available to you now with a sports betting leader!