What this guide covers
Cricket is three sports in one. A Test lasts up to five days, a one-day international lasts most of a day, and a T20 is done in about three hours. The markets look similar, but the way they settle and what moves the prices are different in each. This guide covers the common markets, then goes format by format, then covers weather.
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Markets
- Match winner. In Tests, a draw is also an option.
- Top batter or bowler. Highest scorer or most wickets for a team.
- Innings runs. Over or under a line.
- Method of dismissal. How the next wicket falls.
Match winner is the main market. In limited-overs cricket it's usually two-way. In a Test it's three-way, because a Test that runs out of time without a result is a draw.
Top batter and top bowler markets ask which player on one team scores the most runs or takes the most wickets. Ties are common, especially for bowlers, so dead-heat rules matter. Under a dead-heat rule, your stake is split between the tied players and the payout drops. Check how Stake settles ties in these markets.
Innings runs is an over and under bet on one team's total in an innings. Shorter versions run for the first six overs, often called the powerplay, or for a set number of overs.
Method of dismissal asks how the next wicket falls: caught, bowled, LBW, run out, stumped and so on. It's a niche market with a large margin.
Formats
Format and settlement
| Format | Watch for |
|---|---|
| Test | Draws are common |
| ODI | Rain can reduce overs |
| T20 | How ties are settled; check the rules |
Tests
In a Test, time is part of the contest. A team can be far ahead and still not win if it can't take twenty wickets before the last day ends. That's why the draw price matters. Weather that wipes out a day pushes the draw shorter. A flat pitch with lots of runs does the same.
One-day internationals
ODIs are 50 overs per side. Rain can cut the overs, and a method called Duckworth-Lewis-Stern, or DLS, sets a revised target. Markets on the match result usually stand if a result is reached under DLS. Markets on runs, such as innings totals, can be voided if the overs are reduced, because the line was set for a full innings. Stake's rules decide which markets stand.
T20 and leagues
T20 internationals and leagues like the IPL move fast. A few big overs can swing a match. Ties are usually settled by a super over, a one-over shootout. Whether a T20 match winner market includes it depends on Stake's sports rules.
Weather and abandoned matches
Weather is the biggest settlement question in cricket. If a limited-overs match is abandoned without a result, match bets are usually voided. If enough overs were bowled for an official result, they usually stand. For a Test, bad weather usually just makes a draw more likely. Player markets like top batter can be voided if the match is cut short. Always open Stake's sports rules for cricket when rain is in the forecast.
What moves the price
The toss, the pitch report and the team sheet all move cricket prices. So does dew in night games, which can make bowling harder later on. Most of this is public information, and the price already reflects it by the time you look. Knowing it helps you understand the price.
Live cricket
Cricket suits in-play betting because the game breaks into overs and balls. Prices update after every delivery, and markets suspend while the ball is live. A long Test gives you days of chances to bet again. Read live betting and set your budget for the match before the first ball.
Related
Learn over and under for runs lines. For live overs, see live betting. If you want to back a few results together, our accumulator guide explains why every extra leg lowers your chance.
A worked example
Here's a made-up T20 match. Team A is 1.70 and Team B is 2.20. You think A's opening batter is in form, so you look at the top batter market instead of the match. If he top-scores alone, the bet pays in full. If he ties with a teammate on 48, a dead-heat rule may halve your stake on the winning part, so the return is about half. Now say rain arrives and the match is cut to 12 overs a side. The match winner market may stand if a result is reached, while your top batter bet could be voided under the rules. The same match, three outcomes, all depending on the rule book.
Keeping it in proportion
With leagues running across the year, there's nearly always a match on somewhere. Pick the matches you follow and treat every bet as money you can lose. If you're chasing losses, stop and read our responsible gambling page.
FAQ
What if rain ends the match?
Stake's rules decide which markets stand.
Are IPL markets deeper?
Major leagues usually have more markets.
Does a dead heat on top batter change payouts?
Dead-heat rules usually reduce payouts. Stake's sports rules set how.
Does the super over count in a T20 match bet?
Usually yes, because it decides the match. Check the market rules on Stake.