How to Bet on Cricket
How to Bet on Cricket - Cricket Betting Guide, Tips & Strategies
There are so many variations of cricket that it can seem like a difficult game to understand, particularly for beginners. But when you scratch the surface and start watching cricket, it’s super exciting and offers some brilliant betting opportunities.
In this guide, we explain how to bet on cricket online at Stake Sportsbook to have a chance of profiting from a range of high-profile fixtures throughout the cricket season.
Cricket Rules & Gameplay
Cricket can seem like a complicated sport if you’ve never watched or played it before. But the game is split into two phases of play – batting and fielding. The batting team is tasked with scoring as many runs as possible, while the fielding team needs to take as many wickets as possible, with ten wickets ending the inning. Each team has at least one batting inning per match.
Batting
The batting team can score runs by hitting the ball across the boundary for four runs (if the ball bounces before crossing the boundary) or six runs (if the ball doesn’t bounce before crossing the boundary). The batters can also score individual runs by hitting the ball anywhere within the boundary and running between the two wickets.
Fielding
The fielding team can take wickets by bowling the ball directly at the stumps and knocking the bails off. Balls are bowled in overs, made up of six balls apiece. Many games have limited overs (20 or 50-over games, for instance), while some, like test matches, have unlimited overs.
As well as a standard dismissal, another way of taking wickets in cricket is via leg before wicket (LBW), where the ball hits the pads of the batter rather than the stumps themselves. Another common way of taking wickets in cricket is via a catch, where the batter hits the ball into the air, and a fielder makes a successful catch. Less common is a run-out, where a fielder throws the ball at the stumps when a batter is out of their crease.
General Gameplay
Each team starts the inning with ten wickets, and the team that ends the match with the most runs on the scoreboard when each team has lost their wickets or finished a set number of overs wins.
If a limited-overs cricket match ends in a tie, a Super Over is played. Each team gets one extra over to bat, and the team that scores the most runs during this round will win the match.
This is cricket in a nutshell, but there are many variations of the game, including long-form test matches, 20-over matches, and various other matches you can bet on throughout the season.
Top Cricket Tournaments, Major Events & Matches
Although summer is the best time of the year to watch and bet on cricket, there are matches in various leagues and formats with plenty of betting options throughout the calendar year. For instance, some of the most popular tournaments and events you can bet on each year include the following:
Test cricket: International test cricket is the sport in its longest and most authentic form. ICC International test matches are typically played in five-series matches, consisting of five days apiece! International teams from nations like England, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Bangladesh, South Africa, Australia, and India compete yearly in the ICC World Test Championship. The Ashes is another major Test cricket series that’s played biennially. Meanwhile, the ICC Cricket World Cup is held every 4 years.
T20 international cricket: T20 is limited-over cricket, where each team bowls for just twenty overs each. This form of cricket is generally more popular with fans because games are shorter and played at a faster pace. The T20 Cricket World Cup is one of the most popular cricket events to bet on at Stake.com.
Domestic cricket: Bet on the world's most popular T20 cricket leagues on Stake. Australia’s Big Bash League (men & women) is super popular and a great way to bet on cricket when there are no international matches. There’s also the hugely popular Indian Premier League, as well as the MLC, which is growing in popularity.
Simulated reality cricket: When there’s no live cricket action on, Simulated Reality League cricket is the best way to get your sports betting fix, with data-driven, computer-generated outcomes available for you to bet on. You can bet on various SR cricket leagues and tournaments, including international matches and the SRL Big Bash. Learn more with our SRL betting guide.
How to Bet on Cricket?
It’s easy to start betting on cricket at Stake. Our ultimate sports betting guide covers all the basics if you’re a beginner. We’ve also got a guide to the easiest sports to bet on for newbies, but you can follow these steps to place your first bets on any cricket match:
Log in to your Stake account and search for cricket to see the available live and upcoming matches.
Select any event to see all of the types of bets.
Choose a betting market to add it to your bet slip.
Enter your stake and check the potential payout before confirming.
You can use the live stream icon if it’s available to watch the match for free.
Most Popular Cricket Betting Markets & Types of Cricket Bets
When you’ve decided on which fixture you would like to bet on, here are the most common types of cricket wagers:
Outright: The outright betting market, also known as cricket futures, lets you choose the ultimate outcome of a series or tournament. For example, you can bet on which team will win the ICC Test Championship or the T20 World Cup.
Winner: This is like a moneyline bet, where you predict which team you think will win or lose the match. The cricket match winners bet includes the outcome of a Super Over, which is used to decide a match in the event of a tie.
Totals: This allows you to bet on the over/under line for the total runs scored during the match or a specific innings. You can bet on the total match runs, team runs or runs by specific players. It’s also possible to bet on the total fours or sixes scored.
Handicap: Handicap betting lets you choose the team you think will win, with a handicap applied. In cricket, the favourite is usually given a specific run deficit (10-30 runs, for instance) that they must overcome. Meanwhile, the underdog is given an equal points advantage, which they need to avoid losing by more than.
Overs: In cricket, overs betting allows you to make predictions on which over a player from either team will be dismissed. For example, you can bet that over 5 of the 1st innings will have an Australia dismissal.
Innings: These betting markets let you predict the totals for specific innings. For example, you can bet on the total run outs for the West Indies in the 1st innings.
Prop: A prop bet in cricket is a wager on something that isn’t tied to the direct outcome of a match. For instance, you can place player props such as the top-scoring player or a game prop on which team wins the coin toss or which team has the most sixes.
Spread: Spread betting allows you to place bets in response to live betting action. Spread betting is in contrast to fixed odds betting at Stake.com.
Top bowler or top batter: These betting markets allow you to wager on which team you think will have the bowler with the most wickets or the batter with the most runs.
Parlay: This is an opportunity to bet on multiple match outcomes in the same betting slip. So, for instance, in a Big Bash game week, you could make a parlay bet on the Perth Scorchers, Hobart Hurricanes, and Sydney Thunder to all win their respective fixtures. In some cricket matches, same-game multibet markets are also available, allowing you to combine multiple bets within the same match.
Pre-Match and Live Cricket Betting Explained
Stake also offers live betting on cricket matches. This gives you the freedom to bet whenever you like, logging in and placing live bets while the match is in-play. Live betting allows you to take advantage of live stats, live scores and even our free live streams on games such as the Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and Caribbean Leagues the to gain greater insights into the action. A wide variety of live betting markets are offered on all cricket matches. Check out our guide that explains the differences between pre-match and live betting for more information.
How to Live Stream Cricket & Place In-Play Bets
You don’t need to place bets to enjoy free live cricket at Stake. Simply log in, locate the streaming tab next to the fixture and tune into live cricket action. Learn more about how to watch live streams of your favourite sports for free online at Stake.
It’s the best way to watch cricket online legally, and it means that you never have to miss a moment of cricket action throughout the season.
You can place bets while watching the match live, with plenty of live betting options to choose from on every game. Just be aware that odds can change quickly depending on what happens on the pitch.
Cricket Betting Strategies & Tips to Win
To help you get more out of your cricket betting experience and boost your winning chances, we’ve listed some of our top tips and strategies:
Always check the format of the cricket match that you’re betting on, as there are so many different types of games. For instance, limited overs matches usually yield smaller run totals than test matches, which is important if you plan on betting on the total number of runs.
Watch some live cricket before placing your bets. Cricket can take some time to understand, so live stream various game formats on Stake.com before placing your bets. Pay attention to the different phases of play, how players react in certain situations and the typical game strategies. These will all help inform your bets later on.
Analyse the recent performances of both teams before making your picks. Consider their last 5-10 matches and evaluate their results in both home and away games. It’s also worth looking at player form, as well as recent head-to-head stats. Some team strengths match up better against certain opponents.
The pitch and weather conditions can play a factor in cricket results too. A green pitch will create swing movement for fast bowlers, while dry, hard pitch conditions result in higher bounce. Humid and cloudy weather often results in more movement of the ball through the air and favours bowlers, while dry, sunny conditions favour the batting team.
Making the most of all available cricket markets is key to finding value and having more success while placing bets. Live betting is a particularly useful area to find betting opportunities, especially as the odds will move quickly with wickets or other changes. For example, taking the favourite if they lose an early wicket while still having depth can present value.
Cricket Betting Mistakes to Avoid
Betting on emotion: Always bet with your head rather than your heart, using data and statistics to make your predictions rather than simply betting on your favourite team.
Using risky betting systems: While some betting systems can promote healthy bankroll management, others, such as the Martingale system, are extremely risky.
Gamblers' fallacy: This is the mistaken belief that if an event has occurred more frequently in the past, it’s less likely to occur in the future or vice versa. Always follow the stats rather than any kind of belief in luck or streaks.
Cricket Betting Odds & Payouts Explained
Before betting on cricket at Stake, it’s important that you understand how to read the betting odds. Higher odds mean higher potential payouts, but also imply that the probability is lower. Balance risk and reward carefully, and consider the vig when comparing odds and looking for value.
How to Read & Compare Cricket Betting Odds?
You can adjust the settings in your Stake.com account to display cricket odds as decimals, fractions or in the American format. Here’s how they each work:
Decimals: The higher the number, the higher the potential payout. Simply multiply your stake by the odds to get the total amount you would get from a winning bet. So if you bet on $10 Australia to win at 1.60, you’d get back $16 if they win.
Fractions: To calculate your profit from fractional odds, you multiply your stake by the numerator (the first number) and divide by the denominator. So if you bet $10 on England to win at 7/10, you’d make $7 in profit, getting back $17.
American: These odds are displayed with either a - or a + symbol. The odds with a - symbol tell you how much you’d need to bet to win $100, while those with a + symbol tell you how much profit you could win with a $100 bet. For example, if you bet $10 on the Perth Scorchers at -154, you’d win $5 profit and get back $15.
Deposit & Withdrawal Methods for Cricket Betting
It’s easy to sign up and make payments at Stake.com. Here are the steps to follow to fund your account and cash out your winnings:
Deposit
Log in to your account and check your current available balance.
Select any of the payment methods and supported local currencies such as CAD, INR, TRY, CLP, and ARS.
You can also deposit and bet with crypto at Stake, with lots of popular cryptocurrencies available, including BTC, ETH, USDT, EOS, DOGE, LTC, TRX and SOL.
Use the deposit address as the “send to” location from your wallet or exchange.
You can also deposit with Mesh, or use MoonPay or Swapped.com to add funds. Once they’ve arrived, store them safely in the Stake vault.
Withdraw
Log in to your account and open the wallet.
Choose the withdrawal option.
Select any of the supported payment methods and enter the amount to withdraw.
If you’re using crypto, ensure you select the correct network .
Check all the details before confirming the payment and waiting for it to be completed.
We offer lots of helpful guides, including how to buy crypto and the safety of crypto gambling. You’ll also find lots of useful information in the help centre , and if you need assistance, the customer support team is always available.
Why Should You Bet on Cricket at Stake.com?
Ultimately, Stake.com is the perfect place to bet on cricket. We offer a vast selection of sports betting markets, great value odds, and the opportunity to access your winnings right away with instant payouts. Of course, you can live stream a wide selection of domestic and international cricket fixtures for free too.
Stake stands out from a lot of other betting sites thanks to the range of amazing sports betting promotions you’ll love. Sign up today to become part of the Stake VIP Club and earn regular rewards for placing bets and levelling up your account. You’ll be able to claim loyalty rakeback, reload bonuses and even your own VIP host. Read the VIP FAQ page for more details, and remember to gamble responsibly. Follow our Stake Smart guidelines for tips on staying in control and having fun.
