We look back at some of the biggest sporting events from the last year, identifying the key events and the betting trends that emerged from them. This article covers the key events of 2019 and how they changed the face of betting.
T20 Blast
With the emergence of T20 cricket, betting fans were presented with the chance to bet on a new form of the game. The format was revolutionary and offered a completely new perspective on club cricket. As in other sports, you would typically see big favorites emerge alongside surprising underdogs, but in T20 cricket, underdogs could turn out to be the actual winners. The first truly worldwide competition was the 50-over World Cup, which was won by the current world champion Australia.
Formation Of The World XI
The formation of the inaugural World XI was a key moment for ODI cricket. For the first time in history, we saw the 12 strongest national teams in one place, representing the best of the best from around the world. It was a dream come true for many fans, who had been waiting years for the day when the strongest sides from all over the world would face off in an epic clash. With each side fielding 12 players, it promised to be a game to remember.
Tiger Woods Finally Wins A Major
The year began with golf fans reeling from the shock news that Tiger Woods, arguably the greatest golfer of all time, had finally won his first Major. The 14th Major championship was the culmination of an incredible comeback by Woods, who had twice previously lost three Major championships in a row. It took him 10 years to finally win his first Major. It was an incredible moment for golf and for the sport’s legions of fans, who had witnessed Woods’ incredible career, which peaked in 2000 when he won 14 Major championships.
2019: A Whole Year Of Major Victories For England
It was a whole year of Major victories for England in 2019. They hosted and won the Cricket World Cup for the first time, the rugby World Cup for the second time, and the football World Cup for the third time. While they lost the hockey World Cup, it was the only tournament they didn’t reach the final of. It was an incredible display of power and talent by England, who fielded a side made up mostly of amateur players, and it laid the foundations for a possible quadruple crown.
ICC Cricket Championship
The much-anticipated 2019 edition of the ICC Cricket Championship arrived just ahead of the start of the season, bringing with it the promise of 12 international matches, featuring some of the best international players. The tournament did not disappoint and lived up to the hype. The inaugural edition of the Championship was won by the white-ball specialist team India, who defeated South Africa in the final by 10 wickets. The final was watched by a global audience of over 500 million and was the 11th highest-rated cricket broadcast of all time. Fans could follow every ball of the tournament live on YouTube, while highlights packages and wrap-ups were also made available to viewers. The tournament also saw the debut of the Women’s T20 World Cup, which was won by England, who defeated New Zealand in the final.
Paddy Power Cricket Super Series
It was the start of the English cricket season in early April and Paddy Power had a brand new form of cricket to showcase, the Super Series. Formed in 2018, the idea behind the Super Series is to pit the best English and Australian cricketers in a round-robin tournament, with every game counting towards both sides’ individual T20I World Cup qualification. The inaugural edition of the tournament featured Joe Root, who took on an Australian XI led by Tim Paine and Mitch Johnson. The game saw Australia take an early lead before Root fought back to level the scores, only for the Aussies to defend a stout total and secure a 17-run win. It was a case of deja vu for Root and his team, who had lost in the same fashion only three months earlier in the World Cup Qualifier. Two more games followed, with England winning the first and drawing the second. While the Super Series was a success and highlighted the talent that was available in both Australia and England, the drawn games meant that neither side progressed to the next round of the T20I World Cup Qualifier.
England Beginning Their Succession
It’s been a golden era for England football clubs, with four of the last five Premier Leagues being won by Championship teams. The 2018-19 Premier League was no different, as 12 of the first 14 games featured at least two goals. It was a pitch invasion waiting to happen and fans went wild, with many predicting a high scoring season. It’s fair to say that the pundits may have been a little conservative, as England achieved a remarkable start to the season, registering 12 wins out of their first 14 games. The form continued as they qualified for the second round of the European Championships, where they beat Scotland and Spain, but lost to France. Manager Gareth Southgate’s men finished the tournament as group winners, having made the semi-finals for the first time since 1996. They begin their 2020 European Championship adventure with a trip to Andorra next month.
2019 Was A Tumultuous Year For Indian Cricket
In an incredible year for Indian cricket, they won the World Cup, the ICC Men’s Championship, and the ICC Women’s Championship. While the Men’s World Cup was a clinical display of power and skill, the thrilling nature of the competition meant that it wasn’t until the final that the true heroes of the tournament were revealed. In a pulsating finale, both Australia and England needed victories to progress to the final. However, both sides succumbed to heavy defeats, with England’s Tom Cooper scoring an unbeaten century, including 12 fours and 6 sixes, to give his side a thrilling 12-run win. It was the first time an England coach had won the World Cup and David Lloyd’s men became the first English side to reach the final of the tournament. With both the men’s and women’s tournaments being such huge successes, it’s clear that Indian cricket has never been stronger. While some consolidation will be required, the foundations are certainly there for Indian cricket to continue its upward trajectory.
The World Cup Was A Huge Success
The 2019 World Cup was unquestionably a huge success. Organized by the ICC, the best teams in the world came together in England for the inaugural event and it was immediately apparent that the organizers had done everything they could to make the tournament as memorable as possible. With each game featuring 16 teams and the entire tournament being broadcast worldwide, it was the perfect platform for the world’s best to showcase their talents. It will forever be remembered as the cricket world came together in solidarity following the devastating February events in England.
ICC Rankings
It’s been a big year for rankings in cricket, with the table-toppers continuing their success at the top. The International Cricket Council launched their official rankings in September 2019 and it was a year of unprecedented change for the cricket world. The new rankings system, which is based on the T20 format, awards points to each team for each match they play, with the ultimate aim of establishing a world top-25. It was the first significant overhaul of the rankings system in 23 years and had far-reaching effects upon the game. As in other sports, it was extremely competitive at the top and the current top five are still yet to be proven. It will be fascinating to see how the next year’s tournaments pan out, given that every match will now impact the rankings.