Cricket Betting Strategy | Tips & Advice

Cricket Betting Strategy: 10 Top Tips 

It’s very important to go to a betting site with a carefully thought-out betting plan. To help you out, we have compiled below 10 very important points worth factoring in when formulating your cricket betting strategy.

#1 Observe the Weather 

Many sports will go ahead as planned despite the weather. While a game of football or rugby union will inevitably be affected if it is pouring with rain or snowing, the match won't be called off unless the weather is truly awful. 

However, in cricket, if there is a small amount of rain, then the match will be halted. This has a huge impact on betting. For example, if England were playing South Africa and heavily dominating the match, they would obviously be considered the favourites to win. However, if the weather were to then suddenly change, washing out the final two days of play, then the match would end in a draw, even if England were right on the cusp of victory.

It is therefore incredibly important to ensure that you keep an eye on the weather, as this will likely force you to reconsider your cricket betting strategy.

#2 Consider the Game Format

The three main formats of the game of cricket are Test, ODI and T20 cricket.

Test cricket is the longest and oldest format of the game. With five days' worth of play with 90 overs bowled a day, Test cricket is more like a chess match at times, with teams battling to build big scores before trying to bowl out their opponents cheaply. 

ODI (One Day International) is a 100-over match split into an innings of 50 overs for each side, with the game played out over a single day. With only 50 overs available for each team, batsmen will generally look to score quickly early in the game, while bowlers will get the chance to take wickets due to the fields that have been set. 

T20 (Twenty20) cricket is the shortest format of the game and the most exciting. With so few deliveries in the match, massive shots are the norm, while cartwheeling stumps are a constant too.

This is why the format of the game is so important when it comes to your cricket betting strategy. If you were to bet on a game you assumed was a T20 clash, only to find out later that it is a Test match, then your bet may be far less likely to win, as certain players will utilise different tactics than what you had initially anticipated. 

#3 Explore Different Markets 

Just like many other sports, cricket betting provides a vast array of betting markets to choose from. Utilising different ones will often see you shortening or lengthening your odds, whilst the value in your bets will change too. 

The Match Winner market, for example, will offer three options, allowing you to bet on Team A, Team B or a Draw. While there are only three results available, your potential value will be quite low. Let's say that Australia were set to play Ireland in a Test match. Australia would be considered big favourites, and therefore offer little value. Ireland, meanwhile, would provide a lot of value, but their chances of winning would be very slim. 

Therefore, it pays – literally – to look into other markets to find more value, such as Top Batsman, Top Wicket-Taker, Man of the Match, To Score a Century, Top Opening Partnership and more. 

Best betting site for market variety: bet365

#4 Find Value Bets 

As mentioned above, looking for value in your bets is exceptionally important, and ranks very highly in any cricket betting strategy. 

Apart from utilising different markets, it is vital to ensure that the risk of your bet doesn't outweigh the potential reward. It's all about weighing the probability of an outcome against the price that the bookmaker is offering, and whether the former is larger than the latter. The main thing to keep in mind here is to look for bets which have a greater chance of succeeding than what the odds imply. Like this, you're more likely to profit in the long run and gain an edge over the bookie. 

Best betting site for value bets: bet365

#5 Look at the Pitch Report Before the Coin Toss 

While it may sound inconsequential, the coin toss is a crucial part of any cricket match. It's basically how the teams decide who will bat and field first, although this is sometimes done via a ‘bat flip’ instead. 

What's important to keep in mind here is that pitches and venues from across the world are very different. While batting first on the pitch at Old Trafford may be the way to go, in the following game at Edgbaston, things could be very different. Therefore, it is always worth your time to look at the pitch report for the match.

Best betting site to bet on the coin toss: 888sport

#6 Examine the Venue 

Different venues and pitches have an effect on how well teams, batsmen and bowlers perform. Bear in mind that some teams will struggle when playing in certain stadiums, especially if they've had negative experiences in the past at the location in question. There is a psychological component of cricket that shouldn't be overlooked, and it can often help you predict who will win the game or which players will excel.

#7 Look at the Form 

The form of any side or player will often prove to be a very important tool in deciding which way you should bet. 

For example, if India go into a match against as the favourites but have lost their previous five games, while their opponents, New Zealand, have won their last ten games consecutively, it would be astute to back the latter side. Similarly, if India have not won a single Test in New Zealand throughout their last eight attempts, then they will likely struggle once again.

However, while backing the form can be a good way to go, it does not guarantee that you will win. After all, sports betting is so exciting because of the fact that it is so unpredictable. A major odds-on favourite could lose to the outsider, while a side that is in blistering form could suddenly run into a mental road-block, seeing them fall to the wayside in the match.

It is also important to consider that, if a team has enjoyed a great run, but happens to be playing their final game of the summer, then they could suffer from mental and/or physical fatigue, meaning they could lose a match they might otherwise have won. Make sure you take into account the team's cricket calendar before you place your bets. 

#8 In-Play Betting

In-play betting, also known as live betting, allows bettors to wager on events that happen in the match. This type of betting will see bookmakers updating their prices in real time. 

For example, if you were betting on the Match Winner market with England starting as the favourites, only for Pakistan to take a few early wickets, then England’s odds would drift, while Pakistan’s would shorten. The beauty of in-play betting means that a formerly odds-on bet could drift massively, while an outsider could see their chances of winning shorten to the point whereby they become the new favourites.

In-play betting can offer great value and excitement, but you should keep in mind the fact that it takes some getting used to. You could see the odds on a certain bet change, persuading you make a wager. However, subsequent events in the game could see the bet's chances of success decrease dramatically. While it doesn't pay to place bets too quickly or purely on impulse, taking too long to make a decision can see the value in a live bet greatly diminish. It's therefore important to find a middle-ground between using reason and trusting your gut.  

Best betting site for in-play betting: 888sport

#9 Take Advantage of Live Streaming

Live streaming allows you to watch the action as it unfolds. For punters – especially those that enjoy in-play betting – this offers supreme advantages.

For example, if, while streaming the game, you notice that Jasprit Bumrah is giving Joe Root some real problems from the first four balls of the over, then you could put money on Root to be the next wicket to fall. If you were following via a live text commentary, this would be far more difficult, as the commentary comes after each over. This means that, if Root’s wicket had fallen on ball number five, then you would have missed out on the chance to back him to fall next.

Best betting site for live streaming: bet365

#10 Claim Any Welcome Offers Available

Welcome bonuses and existing customer offers can significantly increase your potential playing pot. Depending on the bookmaker you've signed up with, you could be awarded a very generous promotion. When it comes to these offers, it's always important to read the terms and conditions attached, as you might either have to satisfy certain requirements such as placing a bet at certain odds, or utilise the bonus itself within a certain time frame. 

A welcome bonus refers to offers like free bets or bet credits, and is usually granted to new customers upon registering. It's also the bookie's way of incentivising punters to sign up with them as opposed to their competitors. 

An existing customer offer is eligible for existing customers – enhanced odds are a good example of such a promotion. These offers are their to thank frequent bettors for their loyalty and to retain their custom.

If you want to guarantee a profit from these free bets and offers, then read our guide to making money using a matched betting strategy.