This summer, cricket fever has hit the United Kingdom, with people passionate about the game choosing to immerse themselves in stats, reports, and matches from around the world. And with the World Cup just around the corner, the fever will only intensify.
Although the sport isn’t as popular in the UK as it is in other parts of the world, such as Australia and New Zealand, it has still managed to grow in popularity here. This year, cricket will be featured during the World Cup, which begins in June, with 13 matches due to be played in the UK. With bets available across all sports in the UK, including cricket, it would be a shame not to take advantage of this global audience and bet on your favourite team. But how exactly can you win in cricket betting?
Take Advantage of The Global Audience
While the UK attracts a lot of interest from around the world, especially with the excitement surrounding the 2017 World Cup, you need to take advantage of this. Just like any other sport, there are many different betting markets available, with each bookmaker offering odds on a varying number of sports. But, if you want to bet on cricket, then all you need to do is head to William Hill, where they currently offer odds on all England Premier League matches. You can also get odds on the Indian Premier League, where you can find all the latest cricket news and stats, or the Australia Big Bash League, where you can place bets on all the games.
Since matches in these leagues are highly competitive and draws large crowds, there is always plenty of action available for anyone interested in taking a punt on the world’s greatest game. You can also get odds on specific players and matches, meaning you can make individual wagers on the greats of the game.
Choose The Right Bookmaker
There are many different types of bookmakers available, so it’s important to do your research before making a decision. Just like with any other sport, the majority of bookmakers in cricket will not suit your needs if you want to bet responsibly. For instance, if you are looking for an offshore sportsbook that is licensed in the UK, then you should look for one that is regulated by the UK Sports Licensing Body. Similarly, if you are looking for a safe and secure place to bet, then you should consider going with a well-known supplier, such as Unibet, where money can be deposited via a number of different payment methods, including credit and debit cards.
The best place to find all the latest cricket news and stats is online, where you can research player and team records, as well as analysis articles about the game. Using resources like these to your advantage will allow you to develop a winning strategy that suits your needs. And, as you would do with any other type of sports betting, reading the results of previous matches, such as previous World Cups, can help you predict the outcome of current matches, as well as decide which teams and players are best suited to your liking. Experience is important, and betting responsibly is always the key to success.
Keep On Top Of Cricket News
With all the excitement surrounding the upcoming World Cup this year, you might be tempted to follow the latest news stories and rumours about the tournament. But, unless you’re an avid fan of the game, you might find that the vast majority of news stories are not relevant to you. Instead of obsessively following all the news headlines, you should only watch or listen to stories that are specifically relevant to your interests.
For example, if you are passionate about West Indies cricket and follow all their matches and news relating to the sport, you might end up wasting a lot of time during the World Cup, as the majority of India and Pakistan matches will not feature any of the Caribbean sides. Following cricket news in general can be a decent strategy for anyone, but it’s not one that will suit all sports fans.
Cricket Is A Long-Hitting Game
Unlike many other sports, such as football or tennis, the great majority of the action in cricket takes place over a long period of time. For instance, a test match will often last five days, with each day consisting of two sessions of either 50 or 100 overs. Between the wickets, there is usually a 40-minute break, which gives you enough time to have a quick sandwich, a glass of wine, or a smoke if you’re of a similar persuasion. The matches can be extremely engrossing, with many fans spending several hours a day watching, reading, or listening to the action. And with the odd exception, the majority of those fans will be men.
The break between innings is also a good opportunity for bookmakers to do some serious damage, with some punters frequently losing thousands of pounds on a single cricket bet. While the ability to bet large sums of money on the game is attractive, the opportunity to lose large sums of money on a single wager can be just as enticing. That’s a lot of pressure to put on a sport that lasts only half as long as a game of football.
Learn How To Gamble Wisely
The key to betting successfully is learning how to control your instincts. Instead of following your natural inclinations and going with whatever bets seem attractive at the time, you should take the time to analyse the odds and consider all the relevant information before placing a wager.
The amount you need to risk to make a profit is often referred to as your ‘wagering’ amount, with the amount you can risk on a particular bet varying according to the odds. For example, if you follow a number of cricket betting websites, you’ll notice that the odds for several top-flight cricket matches are very close to evens, which means if you place a wager, you’ll have a good chance of winning or breaking even. In these types of situations, it would be a good idea to put your money on a team you’re passionate about, as long as they’re not the team that you’re rooting for in the match. This is called ‘cross-match betting’ and can be a very profitable strategy if you know how to implement it correctly. But, if you go the opposite way and place a wager on the team you’re cheering for, then you’re essentially placing a bet on them to lose, which is never a good idea.
To help you analyse the odds and determine which situations are right for cross-match betting, we have compiled a list of the key points to consider before placing a wager. This should help you decide whether or not to risk a penny on a particular cricket match:
Match Is Suited To Your Strategic Plan
One of the most important things to consider is whether or not the match is suited to your strategic plan. If you have decided to follow cricket in general and want to place bets on all the matches featuring the five highest-profile cricketing nations, then you’ll have to look elsewhere, as the UK will not be able to satisfy your needs. But if you’re looking for a place to place bets on a team you follow or are passionate about, then look no further, as there will be plenty of action available. Just make sure you are aware of the limitations that come with betting on cricket, as it is a very competitive game and, as we’ve established, often highly-competitive matches can mean big winnings and/or losses. Only you can decide what is right for you.
Look At The Trends
Betting on sports, especially with large sums of money, is all about reading the trends. Just like in any other sport, the trends in cricket are always evolving and, as a result, so is your opportunity to win. If you want to beat the bookmakers at their own game, you need to be able to spot the trends quickly and place a profitable wager before the bookmakers have a chance to react.
For example, if you’ve decided to follow cricket and predict the results of each and every match, you’ll soon notice that England are due to play a lot of one-off matches this year, while the World Cup is dominated by the Indian and Pakistani teams. This is largely due to the fact that both of these countries play a lot of cricket, with the result that they are consistently at the top of the table. On the other hand, the West Indies and South Africa will be playing fewer one-off matches, which the betting markets have factored in, with all three sides placed lower down the rankings.
Countries like Australia and New Zealand have a much lower profile in terms of world cricket, which the betting markets have duly factored in, with results that can be seen in the under 2.5 goals market. But, even in this scenario, it is still possible to win, as each team still has realistic chances of making it to the semi-finals, with the two regions having produced some amazing cricketing stories in the past.