Cricket betting: formats, weather and the rules that settle bets
Cricket is one of the world's biggest sports, but for many readers it is unfamiliar. That is exactly why it deserves an honest explanation: when you bet on a sport you know little about, the market very likely knows more than you do. Here are the basics of formats, markets and the special rules that surprise newcomers.
Availability
Whether Duell offers sports betting at all, and which markets and limits apply, is shown in the operator's lobby and terms. Whether you may bet online where you live is a matter for your local law.
Three formats of very different length
| Format | In short |
|---|---|
| Test | Up to five days; can end in a draw |
| ODI (One Day International) | One innings per side of 50 overs |
| T20 | 20 overs per side; matches of a few hours |
The format decides which markets exist. In Test cricket a draw is a real outcome; shorter formats almost always produce a winner.
Common markets
The most common markets are the match winner, top batter or bowler, runs in a period and the method of the next dismissal. Many are decided by single events and carry a lot of randomness. The narrower the market, the higher the margin tends to be.
Rain and interruptions
Cricket is played outdoors, and rain can stop or shorten a match. In limited-overs cricket a calculation method (Duckworth–Lewis–Stern) adjusts the target when a match is shortened. How a bookmaker settles bets on a shortened or abandoned match varies and is in its terms: some markets are voided, others settled on the official result. Read the rules before betting on a match with bad weather forecast.
Worked example: the value of not betting
Suppose you stake 10 on each of five matches in a tournament and the margin in your chosen markets is 6%. The expected loss is about 3 — assuming your judgement is as good as the market's. If it is worse, the loss is bigger. For a sport you do not follow closely, that is likely.
Go to the offerTime zones
Many major cricket nations are far apart in time, so matches may run through the night where you live. As with any late-night betting, tiredness leads to poorer decisions. Set a limit on time and money before the first ball.