From the twists and turns of a 5-day Test match to the frenetic slugfest of the Indian Premier League Twenty20 event, there’s plenty of betting opportunities for passionate cricket bettors. However, if you’re new to betting on cricket online, you may well be stumped as to exactly where to begin. Take a look at our list of the best sites for cricket betting to pick out your favourite, sign up and start betting today!
Should you bet pre-match or in-play? Does the outright win market offer better value than the total runs market? Will the opening batsmen make a century partnership? You’ll be amazed at the variety of bets you can place on a single game. While this is terrific news for seasoned bettors, it can be somewhat overwhelming for beginners. However, we’ve got all the information you need to get you off the mark, and our top New Zealand cricket betting sites will help you find the best places to have a punt.
Cricket Formats
There are different formats of cricket, and different teams usually excel in one more than others. It’s important to understand the different variations of cricket and which teams are better at which format before you place a bet. The main cricket formats include:
5 Day International Test Matches
The oldest form of cricket. This is a four-innings match, which can last up to five days. Test matches are considered the most complete examination of teams’ playing ability and endurance. Not all teams qualify for Test status, which is conferred by the International Cricket Council. New Zealand, England, Australia, India and Pakistan are just some of the national teams with Test status.
One Day Cricket
Also known as Limited Overs Cricket, this game was popularised in the 1970s and changed the game as we know it today. This game is played in one day and each team gets 50 overs.
Twenty20 Cricket
This game was popularised in the 2000s and, as a shorter form of cricket, is a more faster and more exciting version of cricket.. It’s played mostly to the traditional one-day rules, but with 80 minute innings and a limit of 20 overs per team.
4-Day County Championships
These cricket matches are played over four days, with two innings per side. These games are played by regional, rather than national cricket teams.
Where and when is cricket played?
New Zealand, India, England, South Africa, Australia and Sri Lanka are just some of the world’s top cricketing countries, which means that online cricket bettors have plenty of action to feast on throughout the year.
Which team should I back?
This will depend on the variation of cricket you’re betting on, as well as the tournament or series, as different teams are prospering in each. It’s useful to have a bit of knowledge at this stage, and to consolidate your knowledge with some research into the form and history of each team. For example, if you’re looking to bet on a Test match, it’s useful to understand how often the home side has lost a Test series in their own backyard.This is because cricket tends to favour the home team, as they’re familiar with the conditions, as well as having control over how the wicket has been prepared- naturally to suit their strengths.
What are my online cricket betting options?
The online betting industry is becoming increasingly competitive, which means bookmakers are coming up with new ways to attract bettors to their site. This has led to a variety of new betting styles, such as live in-play betting, which means there are an abundance of betting opportunities waiting to be seized.
At the top online cricket betting sites featured on Compare.bet, you’ll have a variety of different betting options. You can bet on a Test match in-play with markets such as: odd/even number of runs in the next over, under/over number of runs in the next over, yes/no wicket in the next over, under/over batsman “A” scoring 20/30/40 runs, method of dismissal for next week, under/over total runs scored by end of 50th over and so on.
You’ve also got plenty of options when it comes to pre-match betting on Twenty20 cricket, including betting on the team to hit most sixes, team with highest partnership, total wickets, top-scoring batsman, team to win the toss, century to be scored in match and many others.
Whatever you choose to bet on, it’s always best to do your research beforehand. In cricket, an educated bet is almost always better than a random guess. Compare.bet always recommends comparing online sportsbooks to ensure you’re getting the best balance of betting options and betting odds.
Ready to start betting?
Are you ready to start betting on cricket online? Take a look at our list of the best New Zealand bookmakers to compare odds and offers, choose your favourite new bookie and place your bets on cricket today!
