Cricket: understanding the rules before the markets
Cricket is huge in some countries and little known in others. Newcomers risk betting without understanding settlement rules, which are among the most complex in sport. This page starts from the basics.
Sports betting is legal only in some countries and often only with locally licensed operators. This section explains markets and conditions; it gives no tips and is not an invitation to bet.
Three very different formats
| Format | Typical length | Betting particularity |
|---|---|---|
| Test | Up to five days | A draw is a possible result |
| One Day (ODI) | One day | Fixed number of overs per side |
| T20 | A few hours | Fast pace, many in-play markets |
Main markets
- Match winner, with or without the draw depending on format.
- Top batter or top bowler for a team.
- Total runs in an innings or over a number of overs.
- Method of the next dismissal, in-play.
Rain and reduced matches
Cricket stops for rain and bad light. In limited-overs matches, a calculation method can redefine the target. Bets may stand, be voided or be settled on a revised target; the operator's rules say which applies to each market.
The super over
In short formats a tie can be decided by a super over — a tie-breaker. Some markets include it, others do not. It is the same principle as overtime in basketball: read the rule before, not after.
Cricket and bonuses
Less mainstream events may be excluded from some offers or carry lower stake limits. If a bonus requires minimum odds of 1.80 (illustrative example, not Joe's actual terms), a Test match-winner market with three possible results prices very differently from a T20. Betting on a sport you do not know just to clear a requirement is one of the least sensible choices a clause can suggest.
In short
- Identify the format.
- Check whether a draw is possible.
- Read the rain and reduced-match rule.
- Check whether the event is included in the bonus.
Player markets
Top-batter and top-bowler markets often depend on whether the player is in the starting eleven and, for batting markets, whether they get to bat at all. Rules on «non-runners» vary by operator. Bet types: Bet types. Overview: Betting.