Cricket is one of the most popular sports in the world and has particularly strong followings in Australia, England and India. In this article we have broken down with our expert analysis the best cricket betting sites in the industry that provide a diverse range of markets, top odds and a whole host of special features.
- The Different Types of Cricket
- Some of Our Favourite Cricket Betting Sites – Reviews
- The Most Popular Cricket Tournaments
- Other Popular Cricket Tournaments
- The Most Popular Cricket Betting Markets
- What About Cricket Betting Promotions?
- Understanding Cricket Odds
- 5 Cricket Betting Tips & Strategies
- Cricket Betting Live
- Cricket Betting Sites FAQs
- ThePuntersPage Final Say
Best Betting Sites We Recommend for Cricket Betting in 2023
Bet £10 Get £30 18+ New customers only. Opt in, and bet £10 on football markets (odds 2.00+). No cash out. Get 6x£5 football free bets at specified odds for set markets, which expire after 7 days. Offer valid from 12:00 UK Time on 25/08/2023. Card payments only. Full T&Cs Apply | begambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly. . Click for full T&Cs. BeGambleAware.org #ad
|
£30 Matched Free Bet if your first Acca loses + 50 Bonus Spins New customers only. Min Deposit: £10. First deposit matched up to £10. 1 x wagering at odds of 1.75+ to unlock Free Bet. Debit Card deposits only. This offer is valid for 7 days from your new account being registered. 18+. BeGambleAware.org. Bet The Responsible Way. Terms apply #ad
|
Bet £10 Get £30 18+. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad
|
Bet £10, Get £10 in Free Bets New UK, IE & Malta customers only. Offer available between 16:00 BST on 11th July 2023 and 16:00 BST on 26th October 2023. Min £10/€10 first deposit in a single amount to be eligible for the offer. Max £30 in Free Bets. £10 bet at min odds of 1.5 required to receive £10 Free Bet. A further £10 Free Bet will be credited to your promotional balance 7 days after the first qualifying bet and then a further £10 Free Bet will be credited 14 days after the first qualifying bet. Free bets expire in 14 days after credited. Payment Terms and Conditions apply. This promotion cannot be used in conjunction with any other sign-up promotion. Full T&Cs apply. 18+. BeGambleAware.org #ad
|
Bet £10 get £40 18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet £10 on any football market at minimum 1/1 odds. No cash out. Get £40 in Free Bets on selected events. Free Bets expire in 7 days. Debit card / Apple Pay payments only. T&Cs apply, see below. begambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly #ad
|
Up to £50 in free bets Free bets and spins must be claimed within 28 days of opening. Free bet/spin stake not included in any winnings. Ts&Cs Apply. 18+Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad
|
|
|
Bet £5 get £20 18+ New UK+ ROI Customers only. Deposit & Bet min £5 as first bet at minimum odds 1/2 to qualify for 1x £20 Free Bet. Certain deposit methods and bet types excluded. Free bet valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions apply. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad
|
Bet £5 Get £20 in Free Bets 18+ New UK+IRE Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first 5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 = 4x 5 free bets. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. No cashout, restrictions + Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad
|
Bet £10 Get £40 New 18+ UK customers only. Register using the promo code WELCOME40, deposit and place first bet of £10+ on Sports (cumulative Evens+) within 7 days of registration. First bet must be on Sports. £30 in Free Bets and £10 in Free Spins (50x20p) credited within 10 hours of bet settlement. Free Bet stakes are not included in any returns. Bonuses have a 7-day expiry. Payment restrictions apply. SMS verification and/or Proof of I.D and address may be required
Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad
|
Bet £10 get £30 18+. New customers using Promo code R30 only. Min £10 stake, min odds ½, free bets paid as 3x £10, free bets credited after settlement of first qualifying bet, free bets will expire 30 days after the qualifying bet is placed, payment methods/player/country restrictions apply. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad
|
Bet £10 Get £10 + £10 Casino Bonus New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. £20 in FREE Bets (FB) as £10 in sports bets & a £10 casino bonus (CB). Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. FB applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. FB 7-day expiry. 1 FB offer per customer, household & IP address only. Account & Payment restrictions. 14 days to accept £10 CB, then active for 3 days. CB 5x wagering & max redeemable £100. Game restrictions apply. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. 30 days to qualify. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad
|
£40 Money Back Offer + £10 Casino Bonus 18+ begambleaware.org. New customers only. Min deposit £10. Money back as bonus if first bet loses. Wagering requirements: sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), casino 50x. Unless forfeited the sportsbook bonus must be wagered before using the casino bonus. Bonus expires 7 days after opt-in. No deposit required for NI customers. Call 08081699314 to claim. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad
|
Bet £10 get £15 18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit: £10, max £15 bonus, valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at a min. odds of 1/1 (2.00) or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets no eligible.
Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad
|
Bet £20 get £20 In Free Bets 18+ Opt in & bet £20 on any sport at 2.00+ odds within 7 days. No Cash out. Get 2x £10 Free Bets on any sports market. Free bets expire in 7 days. Card payments only. T&Cs apply. begambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly. #ad
|
The Different Types of Cricket
If you are new to the world of cricket, you might not realise just how multi-faceted this sport is. The depth of the game is one of its greatest strengths, making it among the most exciting to watch, participate in, and of course, bet on. We'll be breaking down the three primary forms of the game so you know where to begin betting, and how their differences can impact your bet.
Test Cricket
For many, this will always be the ultimate form of cricket. Test cricket sees players between international teams square off in the longest form of the game, lasting up to five days. Each team consists of 11 players competing in a four-innings match.
The reason it is so revered is that, over such a long period of time, upsets from a less-skilled team seem unlikely. By combining all of the above with the standard of the teams involved, you will understand why this format is considered by many to be where you will find the greatest matches.
It is also the most popular version of the sport in many countries. According to a recent survey by Marylebone Cricket Club, 86% of their 13,000-plus respondents said it was their favourite. This popularity means that it is widely covered by the best cricket betting sites, especially top events like the Ashes, which brings in fans from all around the world. Other huge Test series include England vs India and England vs Pakistan.
From a cricket betting point of view, it is not just the teams that are rewarded for their expertise; the bettor is, too. This is one format where you can really benefit from understanding the sport and knowing what to look for during a long, complicated, and nuanced game.
TEST CRICKET
For many, this will always be the ultimate form of cricket. Test cricket sees players between international teams square off in the longest form of the game, lasting up to five days. Each team consists of 11 players competing in a four-innings match.
The reason it is so revered is that, over such a long period of time, upsets from a less-skilled team seem unlikely. By combining all of the above with the standard of the teams involved, you will understand why this format is considered by many to be where you will find the greatest matches.
It is also the most popular version of the sport in many countries. According to a recent survey by Marylebone Cricket Club, 86% of their 13,000-plus respondents said it was their favourite. This popularity means that it is widely covered by the best cricket betting sites, especially top events like the Ashes, which brings in fans from all around the world. Other huge Test series include England vs India and England vs Pakistan.
From a cricket betting point of view, it is not just the teams that are rewarded for their expertise; the bettor is, too. This is one format where you can really benefit from understanding the sport and knowing what to look for during a long, complicated, and nuanced game.
ONE DAY CRICKET
Also known as limited-overs cricket, the difference between this format and Test matches are apparent from its name. The first game believed to have been played in India in 1951, and the first international being between Australia and England in 1971. The differences in the rules are simple: each team bats once, with a set number of overs (generally fifty, but can stretch between 40 and 60).
For less patient bettors, this may be ideal as it does not require the same level of concentration as Test cricket. It is also worth noting that teams tend to be much more proactive and aggressive in their play, and take more risks. Less time to distinguish the teams also often leads to remarkably close games. Both are points to consider if you usually bet on five-day tournaments.
T20 Cricket
Many people love the slow, methodical nature of Test cricket. For others, it may just not be their cup of tea, preferring a little bit of everything. Wherever you fit on that spectrum, T20 cricket is here to show that there is a cricket game for everyone. Completed in around three hours, with a single inning from each team splitting the game with a maximum of 20 overs, this is a much more shortened version of the original game.
It has also only been around since 2003, created in an effort to boost the mainstream appeal of the sport. It certainly appears to have worked, with some games attracting tens of thousands of spectators. The Indian Premier League, for instance, is one of its greatest successes, with more people attending the games within this league than any other form of the sport.
How it affects play is like a supercharged version of what has been hinted at from One Day Cricket. This format is like a sprint rather than a marathon, with action-packed play throughout. While Test cricket requires more stamina, this format is considered by many to be a much more immediately physical game with an often explosive style. It has brought ingenuity and a demand for greater athleticism from players from all corners of the globe. As a result of its popularity, cricketers such as Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler are household names in all major nations.
Some of Our Favourite Cricket Betting Sites – Reviews
A lot of different considerations went into our ranking of the absolute best cricket betting sites out there. Make no mistake – there are a whole lot of amazing options that didn't make this list, so whether they're on the top or bottom of this selection, know that to be placed here at all makes it the absolute finest the world has to offer.
Cricket Betting Site – Betway
Betway are one of the titans of the sports betting industry, but their coverage of cricket takes them to new heights. They are one of the premier operators when it comes to offering a great range of betting markets on the sport, whether it is an international competition or a domestic game in England. The first thing you will see when landing on the cricket page of their betting site and app is the extensive range of leagues they have available for wagering.
There are always great offers available on Betway such as free bets, which can be used across their product, and especially their vast amount of cricket markets. You can also find exceptional value with Betway across the board compared with their rivals in the industry. According to our Betway experiences, they have excellent cricket betting odds whether you are betting outright, pre-match or live during the game. You certainly will not regret lodging a cricket bet with Betway, which is why we rank them high up in our list.
Cricket Betting Site – bet365
bet365 are one of the premier bookmakers in the world and they earn a high spot on our list. Their online cricket betting coverage is just one example of their excellence. Certainly, in terms of sheer market variety, bet365 cricket betting may be the finest on this list. They also provide lots of goodies to enjoy across their massive range of betting options, including daily match coupons that always amaze in their generosity and variety.
If there is a cricket game you are not sure will be covered, you are likely to find it here. The bet365 cricket betting experience lives up to the impeccable standards it is known for, from pre-match to live bet365 cricket bets. The latter is, in part, thanks to a broad selection of stats and graphics to go alongside its bountiful buffet of betting markets. Their welcome offer is one of the best in the business, providing an ample amount of bet credits to use across the betting site and app, including on their numerous cricket betting markets. Make sure to check out our extensive bet365 review to get the bigger picture of this bookie.
Cricket Betting Site – William Hill
We ca not think of a better introduction to the world of cricket betting than by utilising the generous free cricket bet offers receiving up to 10% of your stake back if an in-play wager is unsuccessful, which are available for a wide range of sports by William Hill. Head over to their fabulously detailed cricket page to see what live games and enhanced odds are available, both pre-match and in-play.
Speaking of cricket betting live games, one thing that William Hill in our experience really excels at is its live in-play markets, available on many games. The mass appeal and success of William Hill, bolstered by their ease-of-use focused site and betting app, has done nothing to dissuade them from being exceptionally generous and versatile, hence their position on our list.
We love their cricket coverage that details all major competitions, while there are enhanced odds readily available for the Ashes along with other major matches. You can’t go wrong with William Hill.
Cricket Betting Site – 888sport
No example on our list so far is a slouch when it comes to statistical prowess, and we think 888sport might take our pick for the finest of the cricket betting sites in terms of how well they present information. This allows you to make the smartest cricket bets you possibly can.
Hit the stats button and a whole page of statistical magic appears in its own dedicated page. Combine their beautifully designed site with an internationally appealing market selection complete with cricket betting live streaming and you are onto a winner! Our 888sport review revealed they are not bad with value either, offering some of the best value on the market when it comes to cricket betting odds.
Cricket Betting Site – Betfair
As is often the case with the largest betting exchange of the world, you are not just getting one of the best places to bet with Betfair – you are getting two! The market selection, promotional options, live betting, cash out, design, and smooth-as-butter international cricket betting live streaming are all top notch. According to our Betfair review, they really are great all-rounders.
On top of that, you also have arguably the best place for online cricket betting if you are looking for a betting exchange, and they have thrown in an awesome selection of cricket betting odds boosts for good measure, too!
Cricket Betting Site – Ladbrokes
Ladbrokes offers one of the best cricket betting products out there, but the fact that it does not feature in the top 10 of our list highlights the standard of the bookmakers that we compiled for betting on cricket. We found a huge number of price boosts available for cricket betting, not to mention daily boosts on any sport. This means that, regardless of what cricket betting market you are interested in, you can pretty much always get something to sweeten the deal.
The enormous reach that Ladbrokes has, means that the number of markets is vast, having especially good coverage of Australias Big Bash. Best of all might be the number of specials available on nearly every game, giving you unique ways to win daily. Balance that out with the consistently great odds they are known for, ensure that you will have an enjoyable and potentially fruitful betting experience. Learn more about them with our Ladbrokes review!
Cricket Betting Site – Coral
Considering the first thing we saw when we landed on the sportsbook page on Coral was an enhanced double on the Big Bash League, it is no surprise to find this is an operator with a deep love of cricket. Once again, its Australian betting coverage is impressive, but do not be fooled – this is one operator with a truly international eye for online cricket betting. The depth of their markets are not quite as thorough as others in the industry, which may turn experienced bettors away from the site in search of odds for domestic T20 leagues outside of Australia, India and England. However, Coral have other strengths, which makes them one of the top operators to use when betting on cricket.
You can use a host of general sports promotions on any of their extensive pre-match or in-play offerings thanks to a terrific bonus page, along with any cricket exclusives that may pop up. And let us not forget the commitment Coral has to making betting easy, from design, to small minimum bets. If you are an inexperienced online bettor and you are looking for a cricket site, this might be the one for you! Find out more in our Coral review.
Cricket Betting Site – Unibet
Unibet take their cricket betting extremely seriously, highlighted by the presence of the Ashes on the main page of their site when he had a look. A deeper dive into Unibet brought up the litany of betting markets that are available for cricket matches all over the world, ranging from the elite Test cricket to the womens Super Smash in New Zealand. We can not think of a better example than that to showcase the scope of what Unibet offers. The cherry on this delicious betting cake might be their astounding cricket betting live performance – they are known for their silky-smooth live streaming and wonderful mobile experience, and nowhere does that reputation show more than with their incredible coverage of international Test cricket.
Unibet has 11 million customers worldwide, and we find it hard to imagine a single one of them being disappointed with their options for cricket betting.
Cricket Betting Site – BoyleSports
We think BoyleSports do not get enough credit for the fantastic job they do when it comes to their cricket betting markets. They almost always have some kind of brilliantly distinct and tempting special on hand to get you invested in games, often in ways you did not even consider.
On our BoyleSports test we found an odds boost immediately at hand when browsing their cricket page for the Big Bash. You can be sure the Big Bash is not the only T20 cricket league available on their betting site and app, while other major international competitions are also catered for with their vast array of cricket betting odds.
They are impressive to the point where we would suggest checking them out before deciding which market is right for you. On top of that, they have a large, easy-to-follow selection of markets and plenty of relevant extras, like consistently high-quality cash outs and acca insurance to make them worth your while.
Cricket Betting Site – BetVictor
Arguably the best-looking operator on this best cricket betting sites list, BetVictor are also far from “all style and no substance” thanks to a fantastically straightforward yet comprehensive cricket betting experience. It is a good thing their site design is so well-structured and easy-to-use with the incredible number of leagues and markets available, including plenty of specials and enhanced odds to further excellent cricket betting odds. Best of all might be their big cricket doubles, which offer some great odds on popular markets. More infos about this operator in our BetVictor bookmaker review.
Cricket Betting Site – Dafabet
Dafabet is the self-proclaimed “most secure” online betting company in Asia, available for, and very popular with, British users. That said, we think the love that the continent has for cricket must have boiled over, as they provide a very comprehensive look at some of the best cricket betting opportunities throughout the world, complete with the ultra-competitive odds they are renowned for. Look out for their odds and offers during the Indian Premier League, where they will provide greater value given their area of expertise. More information in our Dafabet review.
Cricket Betting Site – LV BET
There are few better examples of what a candidate for best cricket betting sites is capable of than the live betting for cricket offer at LV BET. They did not have live streaming on any of the games we were checking at the time we reviewed LV BET, so they have instead done everything possible to provide as comprehensive a coverage as you could imagine without having the real thing.
We are talking about state of the art graphical information with the most incredible detail. This was true of both smaller and larger tournaments, and they had a great variety of interesting markets we have rarely seen elsewhere. They can match what you would expect from huge names and put their own brilliantly executed spin on it. There is a slight snag regarding one area of LV Bet, which did not allow live betting on the Ashes during our visit. We hope that this can be resolved soon to match their markets for the other sports, which did have numerous in-play wagering options.
Cricket Betting Site – Sportingbet
From the free bet that greets you to its colourful graphical design, it is easy to see that Sportingbet is meant to appeal to as many people as possible. Thus, cricket fans, just like fans of football, tennis, basketball, or pretty much any other sport, can expect fantastic coverage. They can also expect offers that are largely useful across the board, a wide selection of competitions, and easy-to-understand betting options. Read on in our Sportingbet review to find out more.
Cricket Betting Site – Betfred
Another classic British pick for best cricket betting sites, whether it is the NZ Super Smash T20 or any number of one day internationals, Betfred has got you covered. Market-wise, they tend to focus on versatility in tournaments more so than individual games, hence why they are not higher on this list. However, if your idea of the best cricket betting site is to give you great odds to keep you invested through a huge event, in our experience Betfred is tough to beat. We particularly liked one of their special features for the Ashes, which offered insurance on the top batsman market that if your selection scored a century but was not the top-scorer, your bet would be paid out as a win. Quirks of this nature highlight why Betfred should definitely be under consideration when considering a bet on cricket.
Cricket Betting Site – mr.play
Better known by many for their casino, mr.play should not be overlooked in terms of the quality of its sportsbook, which has turned this slot extravaganza into more of an all-rounder. Its casino design sensibilities, focus on vibrancy, clarity, and usability really lend themselves to the many cricket betting markets available. Far from being an extra to your casino experience, the sports selection is its equal, so much so that it scraped its way onto our best cricket betting sites list, and is certainly a great choice for cricket lovers looking for a little bit of everything. One area of improvement will be to expand their range of markets, which were limited on our mr.play review and did not include the live Ashes series that was taking place at the time of writing.
The Most Popular Cricket Tournaments
There are a lot of quality cricket tournaments out there. Here are three of the most popular and interesting ones out there so you can get an idea of the scale of what is available to bet on.
ICC Cricket World Cup
While there's plenty of discussion regarding the exact popularity of pretty much every other tournament, this isn't the case with the ICC Cricket World Cup, which everyone agrees is the biggest in the world. Like the FIFA World Cup, it comes around every four years and is a one-day cricket tournament, meaning it has a nice mix of depth and excitement.
The Cricket World Cup began in 1975, and since then only six teams have ever won the competition, only six teams have ever won, making it one of the most coveted prizes in the sporting world, and home to some of the greatest cricket matches ever played. If you're someone who only really gets into the big international tournaments and huge spectacles, then this is ideal for you.
India vs New Zealand, for instance, has provided some fantastic games in the World Cup. Such a wide appeal is hard to come by, but few tournaments can really compete with the ICC Cricket World Cup. It also has the depth to reward those who want to go further in learning as much as possible about the players, teams, and the game overall.
The Ashes Series
If you're a casual fan in England or Australia, and you're asked to name one big cricket event, there's a good chance The Ashes is the first one that comes to mind. This century-plus feud has, for many, defined Test cricket for both nations, and rarely provides anything less than some of the most amazing sporting action for days on end.
The legend revolves around an urn said to contain the ashes of English cricket, based on an article that claimed its death after an Australian victory in 1882. The games are every bit as epic as that prelude, with fans having debated for decades over which iteration of this tournament is the greatest. It's certainly worth a watch to see if the latest can make it into that conversation!
Indian Premier League
The Indian Premier League has become a focal point of the cricket calendar such is its scope and the riches on offer for players across the world. It's only been around since 2007, yet its 13-season legacy already boasts millions of fans, billions of dollars, and some of the finest cricket in the world.
Some purists are not fans of the T20 version of the game, but if you've never checked it out, you owe it to yourself as a sports fan to see what all of the fuss is about. With its international appeal and reach, it's easy to find and bet on. But it isn't just popularity and accessibility that make it worth your while – the standard of play is considered by many to be the finest you'll find for this form of cricket anywhere due to the calibre of players involved.
Other Popular Cricket Tournaments
There were so many that came close to making our top three picks since there's such a great variety of teams and tournaments to check out in the world of cricket. That said, here’s a shortlist of some that nearly made the cut:
- T20 World Cup: India won the first iteration of this tournament in 2007. The competition used to occur every two years, but has been shunted about the international calendar. Australia won the 2021 World T20, but it will take place again down under in 2022.
- Asia Cup: This competition features all-Asian cricketing teams, highlighting the finest the continent has to offer, with the most famous and passionate games often coming from the heated rivalry between Pakistan and India.
- Big Bash League: This Australian Twenty20 league features alongside the Indian Premier League as one of the top ten most attended sports leagues. Eight domestic teams battle from Sydney to Brisbane to see who the best is from cricket’s most passionate practitioners.
- Caribbean Premier League: Most of the accolades and press coverage tend to go to Australia and India when it comes to Twenty20 Cricket, but one massively popular competition often overlooked by Westerners is found in the West Indies. The Caribbean Premier League is one of the best domestic leagues in the world, and includes some of the greatest players in the world. Considering so many of its stars also excel at the global stage, it is a terrific way of enhancing your international knowledge.
- The Hundred – The newest form of the game was brought into fruition in the 2021 season by the England and Wales Cricket Board in a massive shake-up regarding the rules and regulations of the sport. Rather than overs, teams have 100 balls to score as many runs as possible. Eight teams from around England and Wales competed in the tournament, which did draw a lot of criticism from fans around the country. However, the inaugural competition was deemed to be a success, despite being hampered by Covid-19 outbreaks. It looks as though it will remain as a permanent part of the English season for the long-term.
The Most Popular Cricket Betting Markets
Cricket has variety in all the right ways, and that goes for its betting markets, too. We'll be breaking down five of our favourite betting markets to provide an overview of the types of betting available to you.
Match Betting
This bet is a simple wager on the team that you believe will win the game. You can back either team to win, or for the match to end in a draw. This is ideal for newcomers because anyone can take a punt at which team they reckon will come out on top. Experts are no stranger to this bet, as it'll have them poring over game formats, players, strategy, cricket betting tips, and form. Ultimately, this betting market has as broad an appeal as any market could hope for. You do have to consider the odds at hand for this bet as a wager on the favourite will likely have a narrow odds, demanding a high stake to yield a good sized profit. Bear that in mind before placing a bet.
Completed Match
Showcasing cricket betting's originality and uniqueness, completed match markets have you betting on whether the game will be completed on that day, or if it will end in no result, which happens when enough overs don't get bowled to provide a full match. This isn't the same as a tie, where they get the same number of runs. It'll require a mixture of betting tactics, since you're betting on the weather and the state of the pitch as much as the game. So if you fancy playing weatherman alongside sports predictor, you may have found the perfect betting market for you.
Top Bowler
Whatever team sport you're looking at, betting on individual players is an ideal way for flexing your intricate knowledge of a team. It also gets you thinking of the game in an entirely different way, that is, player-centric as opposed to a team-based focus.
In this market, you're betting on who you think will take most wickets during an innings game, or even a series. This is probably suited to those who have detailed knowledge of a team. The conditions can play a vital role in deciding which bowler to choose, with seamers more likely to take wickets on a cloudy day in England, whereas spinners will lead the wicket column in a scorcher in India. This market requires nous and a keen eye for the fine details.
Top Batsman
Of course, if there's a Top Bowler market, there has to be a Top Batsman one, too. Everything we said about the previous market counts here, but instead, you're betting on who you think will score the most out of the batsmen on both teams. This can be a trickier market to predict as you never know which batsman might come to the fore for their side. Looking at form and averages can be extremely useful in succeeding with this bet.
Outright Tournaments Winner
One of the most interesting ways to bet on cricket is to back a team to win the whole thing! This is a great way of getting you invested in an entire series of matches instead of just one, so this may be the best cricket betting market out there for sheer entertainment value alone.
Other Cricket Betting Markets
And that's not all that populates the fascinating world of betting on cricket. Here’s a selection of other great markets to bet on:
Ties Match
Bet on whether you think a match will or will not be a tie. A simple “Yes” or “No” market.
Team of Top Bowler
Choose which team you think will have the top bowler on their side. A great mix of team and player knowledge.
Team of Top Batsman
Same as Team of Top Bowler, except this time with the top batsman.
Series Winner
Same as Tournament Outright Winner, except this time you're choosing which team will win out of a limited series of matches. The Ashes is an example of a popular Series Winner market.
Innings Runs
Predict the number of runs scored in the first innings. This is an over/under market.
Over/Under Score
Predict whether you think the total score of a game, team, or series will be over or under the amounts set by the bookmaker.
Win Toss
Pick who will win the coin toss.
Highest Opening Partnership
In cricket, two batsmen bat in a partnership, and it ends when one is dismissed. The highest opening partnership is which team will score the most runs before they lose a wicket in their first innings.
Most Run Outs
Pick which team you think will have the most runs either in a match or in a series.
Odds/Even Runs
An interesting one because you’re actually picking whether you think a teams' runs will finish on an odd or even number.
Man of the Match
In most cricket games, one player will be selected as man of the match based on their performance. Correctly predict who that player is for the win.
Accumulators
On most bookmakers, and certainly amongst the best cricket betting sites, you can build accumulator bets across several markets, games, and tournaments, and largely as you please.
What About Cricket Betting Promotions?
Strangely, considering the popularity of the sport, some seem to be concerned that cricket might be lacking in promotions. Well, we can reassure you that nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, the majority of general sports promotions, such as welcome offers, free bets, bet boosts, accumulator insurance, and so on, are all relevant to cricket betting markets. In other words, you can have as high expectations for cricket betting promotions as you can any other sport.
Understanding Cricket Odds
As rich and complex as cricket is, some things thankfully remain as simple as ever. There's no difference between how cricket odds work and how they work for any other type of betting. Your odds, being decimal, fractional, or, less commonly in the UK, American, convert into implied probabilities and also reflect how much you will win if your bet is successful.
We scoured the top cricket betting sites in the UK as part of our odds comparison research. The table below shows those bookies we found to have the highest quality of cricket odds.
| Bookmaker | Rank | Winning Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| BetVictor | 1st | 18% |
| Unibet | 1st | 18% |
| Betfair | 1st | 18% |
| bet365 | 2nd | 14% |
| 888sport | 2nd | 14% |
| Paddy Power | 3rd | 9% |
| Betfred | 3rd | 9% |
| Ladbrokes | 4th | 0% |
| Coral | 4th | 0% |
| William Hill | 4th | 0% |
5 Cricket Betting Tips & Strategies
With a game that has as many different facets to it as cricket, there are many considerations to understanding how best to approach any given market. Coming up with any kind of cricket betting tips and strategy may feel overwhelming for some newcomers. That’s why we've come up with a few golden rules to help you get a firm footing.
1. Know the Game
Knowing the sport you’re betting is crucial to success in any wager, and perhaps even more so in cricket. There are nuances to the sport that you can only learn from watching and studying the game up close and personal. It starts with knowing the differences between the formats such as Test, One Day and T20 cricket, and the key aspects that separate those disciplines from one another.
For example, Jos Buttler is arguably the best batsman in the world against the white ball in one day and T20 cricket, so he should always be considered a strong bet for a top batsman selection in games he is playing in. However, Buttler is not the same player against the ball, so he would not be a good pick for first-class and Test matches. Conditions and style also play a crucial role in knowing when and where to wager. If you’re not familiar with the game, take your time and immerse yourself in the key details before placing a significant bet on a game or series.
2. Don't Just Focus on Your Team
One of the most common mistakes made on any team sport is paying too much attention to your team and not enough on the opposition. While it's natural that you'd have more knowledge of the team you support, a successful prediction is one made on the game as a whole. Ultimately, the more you know about the other team, the better. Cricket is becoming a sport where players are shifting teams with greater frequency due to the amount of domestic competitions. Obviously international teams will remain the same more or less, but it is worth paying attention to where the major players are plying their trade, especially in leagues such as the IPL, Big Bash and The Hundred.
3. Explore Other Markets
A lot of people will stick with backing a team to win, which is completely fine. You should always bet in whatever way you enjoy. However, it might not always make for the best betting tips and strategy. Smart betting is essentially about finding opportunities – the more markets you're open to, the more chances you'll have of finding a market you think is the right pick. Open yourself up to all the markets available for more chances to win.
4. Convert to Implied Probabilities
One of the problems with odds is that, at first glance, they can appear abstract. Finding opportunities comes down to finding good deals on odds. One way to contextualise the odds for better analysis is to convert them to a percentage. For example, it's easier for many people to say you think Australia has a 61.9% chance of winning, rather than a 6/2 chance of winning. This is especially important in a game that can be as intricate and lengthy as cricket.
5. Always Consider the Weather
There is arguably no other sport that's as impacted by the weather as cricket. In fact, there are whole markets dedicated to whether the weather might ruin a game. It also doesn't need to completely end a game to have an impact; many results, perhaps occasionally by a bitter losing team, have been said to have had the weather as a determining factor. It's also worth noting that this is an even greater consideration for longer Test games, so this plays into our first strategic point. Put simply, when doing your research, don’t forget the weather forecast!
Cricket Betting Live
There's no doubt that, with all its details and intricacies, covering live cricket can be quite the challenge.
Test matches provide great opportunities for live betting due to the length of action that spans throughout the day and perhaps even over the course of five days. There are even markets that are only available on in-play games, like a prediction for the fall of the next wicket and the next method of dismissal. If you follow the action and have a feel of the game there are chances to get a sizable win from your live cricket wagers.
Another area we made sure to check out in our compilation of the best cricket betting sites was their quality of mobile experience. It's one of the best ways of determining the best cricket betting sites – just getting all that information together in a way that can be absorbed through a portable device is a technical and logistical achievement. We've been amazed by how well so many of the best cricket betting sites have pulled it off, especially when you throw the occasional live-streamed game (when licensing permits it) into the mix.
And it is all worthwhile! Betting live might be strategically hard to do, especially over longer games, but it's also the tactic many believe provides the most varied selection of high-quality betting opportunities.
Cricket Betting Sites FAQs
The primary types of options for cricket betting are Test, One Day and T20 matches, although you can also bet on first-class cricket, T10 and The Hundred.
Yes, live betting is available on most bookmakers, especially on the best cricket betting sites we’ve listed in this article.
This depends on a number of technical and logistical factors. What is specifically available will vary between the best cricket betting sites, but live streaming on cricket is generally available
Absolutely! The best cricket betting sites will generally have several bonuses offers that can be used on this sport.
Yes, you can use accumulators on cricket just as you would any other sport!
ThePuntersPage Final Say
There is absolutely no shortage of cricket betting for you to enjoy! With an astounding number of best cricket betting sites options providing versatile, detailed coverage and betting opportunities, you can make a cricket bet locally, internationally, on players, teams and tournaments, and even across entirely different versions of the same core sport.