Cricket originated in 18th-century Britain, and has since become a revered traditional game that has grown to become the world’s second most popular sport, surpassed only by soccer.

This timeless sport offers a treasure trove of statistical data, including averages, totals, and run rates, providing valuable insights into the game’s dynamics. As such information is particularly advantageous for bettors seeking an edge in their cricket wagers.

Whether you’re a newcomer to cricket or a seasoned fan with a collection of Wisden Cricketers’ Almanacks adorning your shelves, this guide will equip you with the necessary knowledge to enhance your betting experience on cricket using cryptocurrency.

Exploring the Different Forms of Cricket

1. Test Cricket

As the most traditional format, test cricket typically spans five days (sometimes four). It stands as the pinnacle of the sport, with only twelve nations possessing the coveted test status. The game’s slow pace allows batsmen to wear down opposing bowlers, aiming to accumulate a substantial total run score.

Test cricket offers an immersive experience for enthusiasts, with bets providing entertainment over several days. Due to the extended duration of the matches, surprises are less likely, as teams have ample time to recover from momentary setbacks or unexpected events. This predictability can be advantageous for bettors.

However, test cricket betting can tie up your funds for an extended period, and the unpredictable nature of weather conditions, such as rain, can lead to matches ending in draws or being suspended.

As such changing conditions can render pre-match research less reliable. Additionally, situations like the follow-on can impact specific bets. For instance, if you wagered on a player scoring over 100 runs in a test, but their team only bats once, you may end up disappointed.

2. One-Day Internationals (ODIs)

One-Day Internationals were introduced in 1971 when an England versus Australia test match was declared a washout. The two teams played a limited-over match, and the format stuck.

Unlike test cricket, ODIs feature a World Cup, where the strongest nation is crowned. This month-long tournament, held every four years, involves ten participating countries.

Here are the previous winners:

Year	Winner	Runner-up
1975	West Indies	Australia
1979	West Indies	England
1983	India	West Indies
1987	Australia	England
1992	Pakistan	England
1996	Sri Lanka	Australia
1999	Australia	Pakistan
2003	Australia	India
2007	Australia	Sri Lanka
2011	India	Sri Lanka
2015	Australia	New Zealand
2019	England	New Zealand

The ODI format encourages aggressive play from both batsmen and bowlers, making it exciting for betting on boundaries and wickets. The required-run-rate statistic makes it easy to track and assess winner bets.

In the event of rain interrupting a match and reducing the number of overs, the Duckworth-Lewis method is employed to calculate the chasing team’s revised target. This complex method can disrupt pre-match calculations. Moreover, the shorter duration of the game increases the likelihood of surprises, which can be either favorable or detrimental to your bets.

3. Twenty20 (T20)

Introduced in 2003, Twenty20 cricket is the shortest format of the game, intended to popularize cricket worldwide. Its fast-paced nature offers captivating viewing, with batsmen aiming to hit the ball over the boundary and often sacrificing their wickets in the process.

Similar to ODIs, T20 cricket features a World Cup that follows a comparable structure to determine the best nation. Batting averages and overall scores tend to be lower in T20 matches, and run chases often go down to the wire, even reaching the last over or ball. A notable example is the West Indies winning the 2016 World Cup with four consecutive sixes in the final over.

T20 matches are ideal for bettors seeking short bursts of entertainment. Betting on boundaries can be highly enjoyable, as deliveries frequently sail out of the stadium. Winner market bets can be decided by a couple of deliveries, making it challenging to consider your bet a loss until the very end.

However, the Duckworth-Lewis method, although effective in ODIs, receives criticism in T20 matches. Rain can disrupt seemingly secure bets, so it’s crucial to review the sportsbook’s rules regarding matches affected by weather conditions. Are there any minimum requirements for valid bets? These rules may vary among sportsbooks.

Where to Place Your Cricket Bets

Which sportsbooks offer the best cricket coverage?

Two sportsbooks that stand out in terms of cricket coverage are Sportsbet and Cloudbet. Both platforms offer a wide range of in-play markets and feature matches from various tournaments, including the Pakistan Cup and the Momentum Cup in South Africa.

If a choice must be made, Sportsbet edges ahead due to its superior number of in-play and pre-match markets. With Sportsbet, bettors can place wagers on individual players’ score totals, the number of runs scored in specific balls or overs, and much more. The in-play graphics are neatly presented alongside the odds, providing comprehensive information.

Which Cricket Sportsbook is the Best Overall?

To save you the effort, we have conducted extensive reviews of various crypto sportsbooks. The top three operators we highly recommend, in order, are currently BC.Game, Sportsbet.io, and Cloudbet.

Types of Cricket Bets

1. Winner

For test matches, the winner bet simply pertains to the team that emerges victorious. However, be cautious, as draws occur more frequently in cricket than in other sports.

For ODIs and T20s, the winner market is slightly more complex. A tie triggers a Super Over, where both teams play an additional over, with the side scoring the highest becoming the winner. Ensure you verify whether your winner bets encompass the Super Over. Usually, there is also a “1×2” market available, which allows for the possibility of a tie.

2. Top Batsman/Top Bowler

This popular market focuses on identifying trends among specific players. You can wager on a player to be the top batsman or bowler of the entire match or within their respective teams.

The top batsman is the player who scores the most runs, while the top bowler is the one who takes the most wickets. In the event of multiple players having the same number of wickets, the bowler with the fewest runs conceded prevails.

If two players tie, dead heat rules usually apply. This means that your stake is divided by the number of tied players. For example, if three players tied and you bet 3 mBTC on a selection with odds of 12.0, you would be paid out based on a 1 mBTC stake at 12.0. However, these rules may vary among sportsbooks, so checking their specific regulations is advisable.

3. Totals (Over/Under)

Over/under markets play a significant role in cricket betting. You can place bets on whether the overall scores of teams, individual player scores, runs in a specific over, or runs from a particular ball will be over or under a certain threshold. These markets offer relatively swift settlements within the context of a long-form game.

Top Tips for Cricket Betting

1. Account for Weather Conditions

Always check the weather forecast before placing cricket bets, especially for test matches in the UK. Rain can halt play, resulting in shortened matches or even entire days being lost. Such weather disruptions significantly affect outcomes, with draws becoming more probable.

Damp conditions tend to favor bowlers, as they can generate more swing and benefit from unpredictable bounces and outfield behavior. However, a wet ball becomes more challenging to grip. Dry, dusty pitches suit spin bowlers, as the ball grips the surface. Flat, predictable wickets favor batsmen, facilitating fluid run scoring.

2. Consider Ground Conditions

Similar to weather conditions, ground characteristics play a crucial role in determining outcomes and player/team totals. Some grounds, such as the SSC in Sri Lanka or the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, are known for offering flat surfaces, increasing the likelihood of draws in test matches and high scores when betting on batsmen.

Certain players perform better on specific ground conditions. For instance, Indian legend MS Dhoni averaged over 100 runs in ODIs at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai and scored 224 against Australia there in 2013, marking his best test innings. Keep an eye out for such opportunities.

3. The Coin Toss Matters

Unlike in other sports like soccer, the coin toss holds substantial significance in cricket. The captain winning the toss can capitalize on favorable pitch conditions or apply pressure to their opponents by choosing to bat on a challenging wicket. This factor exerts a greater influence in ODIs or T20s, where small details often determine match outcomes.

How to Enhance Your Chances of Winning