The Only Cricket Betting Glossary You Will Ever Need

Cricket betting is not a game of luck; it is a game of knowledge and strategy. As a bettor, you must have a clear understanding of the game’s betting terminology. 

At CricXtasy, our Cricket Betting Glossary is designed for both beginners and seasoned punters looking to sharpen their betting knowledge. 

Here, we walk you through the cricket betting glossary, mastering which will increase your chances of success in the fast-paced world of cricket betting.

Cricket Formats & Betting Market Basics

If you are new to cricket betting, you need to understand the different formats of the game, as each of these requires you to fine-tune your betting strategies to maximize your rewards. Here are the different formats this game is played in.

Formats of the Game

• Test Matches – It is the oldest format that has a 150-year legacy. The game is played over five days, with each team bowling twice and also batting twice (in most cases) to win a game. Unlike other formats of cricket, Test cricket also has a draw as an outcome. Hence, you will also have Draw No Bet as an option. Toss and weather can have a huge bearing on the outcome in Test Matches. 
• One Day Internationals (ODIs) – The original limited-overs format, here each team can play a maximum of 50 overs, producing faster-paced play than Tests. Toss and pitch conditions influence outcomes significantly in this format.
• T20 (Twenty20) – It is undoubtedly the most popular format of the game. It is limited to 
  20 overs per side. It is a fast-paced format where the batters have an edge, making markets like Most Sixes or Top Batter very popular.
• The Hundred – The Hundred is the newest format of the game, currently played only in England, featuring 100 balls per innings. It has its unique set of bowling rules that offer it more cushion than a T20 game. The best batter and best bowlers are popular betting markets in this format. 
• T10 – It is an ultra-short format, with 10-over-per-side games. It is known for explosive scoring, where one over can turn a game around. It is ideal for in-play betting where the momentum can shift in a few balls. 

Here are the upcoming cricket matches to bet on.

Betting Market Basics

Here are a few basic things you must understand before you start betting in cricket. 

• Match Winner – This is the most common market, where you will be on the team that wins the game. 
• Draw No Bet – This option is particularly relevant in Test matches, as it eliminates the risk of a draw and refunds your stake in the event of a draw. 
• Toss Winner – Bet on the team that will win the pre-match coin toss.

Check our List of the Best Cricket Betting Apps.

Cricket Betting Terms A–Z

Whether you’re new to cricket betting or already placing wagers regularly, knowing the terminology is key to understanding markets, odds, and strategies. This A–Z glossary explains essential terms in simple language so you can bet with confidence.

• Accumulator Bets – It is a single bet that combines bets. It has a number of selections, and all must go in your favour. If one of the selections doesn’t go in your favor, you lose the bet entirely. For example, if you choose three teams to win three different games. and odds are 2.00, 4.00, and 3.00 for these outcomes and all your selections win, you can win 2.0×4.00×3.00 = 24 for your stake. 
• Bet Builder – It is a feature that allows you to combine different markets from the same match into one bet. For example, you bet on India to win, Shubman Gill to be the top batter for India, and Shaheen Afridi to be the top bowler for Pakistan. All parts must win for the bet to pay out.
• Betting Exchange – These are platforms that allow players to bet against each other rather than a bookmaker. Unlike a bookmaker, the exchange doesn’t set the odds.
• Cash Out – It is a betting strategy where you cash out your bet before the event finishes to lock in a profit or reduce losses. For instance, if you have bet on RCB to win the game and halfway through the chase, you aren’t sure about the outcome. If the bookmaker offers a cash-out worth 80% of the full winnings, you can avoid the risk of losing your stake by cashing out. 
• Draw No Bet (DNB) – This is applicable in Test Cricket, where the outcome can be either team winning or a draw. You can remove the draw option and get a refund of your stake if the game ends in a draw. 
• Double Chance – You can use this betting strategy in Test cricket. In this case, you support two outcomes. For example, India could win the Test or Draw. You win in case of any of these outcomes. 
• Handicap Betting – You choose this betting strategy when one of the teams has a huge advantage over the other. For example, if Australia plays Nepal, the odds are overwhelmingly in favor of Australia. You can back Nepal with +30.5 runs in the handicap market. In this market, you win if Nepal defeats Australia or loses by a margin of less than 30 runs. 
• Hedging – In this betting strategy, you place additional bets to secure a profit or limit a loss. For example, in an Australia vs Nepal contest, your primary bet is on Australia to win. Still, you also stake some money on Nepal to cut your losses if Australia loses. 
• In-Play Betting – Seasoned bettors love this betting strategy. Here you place bets during the match as odds change in real time. In this, you can place bets on every ball in the game. It is popular in T20 and T10 cricket. 
• Limit – The maximum stake a bookmaker will accept for a market. Bookmakers impose such restrictions in certain games where odds are skewed overwhelmingly on one side.
• Over/Under – In this type of bet, you are wagering on whether on such as runs, wickets, being above or below a set number. For example, in an India vs. Australia ODI, if the line is 300.5 runs for India, betting “over” means India scores 301+; “under” means 300 or fewer.
• Outright Winner Bet – Here, you are betting on the overall winner of a tournament or league. For example, India to win the 2027 World Cup. 
• Parlay – It is another name for an accumulator bet.
• Session Betting – This is relevant to Test cricket, where you are betting on outcomes within a specific session of play.
• Stake – It is the amount of money you are putting on a bet. 
• Toss Winner – It is a market where you bet on the winner of the toss before a game. 
• Value Bet – These are bets where the odds offered are higher than the perceived probability. For instance, in an Australia vs Pakistan match, if bookmakers offer Pakistan at 4.00 and Australia at 1.20, and you think Pakistan has a 40% chance of winning, betting on Pakistan is a value bet.

Popular Markets in Cricket Betting

As a beginner in cricket betting, here are some of the most common markets you need to familiarize yourself with

• Over/Under – In this, you bet on the total runs scored in an innings or an over to be above or below a set target. 
• Top Batter – A wager on a player to be the top scorer in either an inning or the game.

• Top Bowler – A wager on a player to take the most wickets in a match or innings.
• Team with the highest score at 1st dismissal – In this market, you are betting on a team that will have the highest 1^st wicket partnership. 
• Player X to Score 50 – A wager on a player to score a fifty in the game

• Player X to Score 100 – A wager on a player to score a century in the game
• Man of the Match – MoM or Player of the Match involves predicting the player who will be awarded Man of the Match.
• Match Winner – It is the easiest betting market in cricket and a favorite with new bettors when you bet on a team that is likely to win the game. 
• Team of Top Batter – You bet on a team that will have the best batter in the game
• Team of Top Bowler – You bet on a team that will have the best bowler in the game. 
• Highest Opening Partnership – A wager on which team’s opening batting pair will put on more runs before losing their first wicket.
• Most Sixes in the Match – Betting on a team that will hit the greater number of sixes in the game

• Most Fours in the Match – Betting on a team that will hit the greater number of fours in the game
• Method of Dismissal – In this, you are betting on how a batter will get out (bowled, caught, LBW, run out, etc.)
• Next Over Runs – In this market, you bet on how many runs will be scored in the upcoming over (often given in ranges).

Concepts that play a major role in cricket betting

• Player Form – A batter or bowler’s recent form impacts odds and should guide your in-play betting decisions.
• Pitch Conditions – Certain pitch conditions are advantageous for some types of players. For instance, dry and cracked surfaces assist spinners, while fast bowlers do well on green tops. Batters generally do well on flat tracks. 
• Weather – Overcast skies favor swing bowling, while hot, dry conditions support spinners. In rain-curtailed games, the team chasing the score has an advantage.
• Dew Factor – During the winter months, evening dew makes gripping difficult for bowlers, especially spinners. It is advantageous for the team batting second. 
• Size of the Ground – Smaller grounds are favorable for the batters as they can clear the fence and hit more sixes. They also limit the effectiveness of the spinners.
• Outfield – Fast outfields mean more boundaries and higher totals, while slow ones restrict boundaries for the batters. 
• Toss – Toss is important in games where the pitch or the weather acts as a decisive factor, such as under dew or when the pitch has a lot of grass cover.

Cricket Corruption Terms

Match-fixing and spot-fixing pose serious threats to the game’s reputation. At the dawn of the millennium, International cricket was hit by a major match-fixing controversy where the names of top-level cricketers emerged, with many of them facing life bans. 

There were allegations that players had accepted bribes to leak team information and manipulate the outcome of games. Since then, the International Cricket Council and different cricket boards have been tough on match fixing and have been able to curb this menace. 

In 2010, the game suffered another setback after a few Pakistani players were charged for spot-fixing by deliberately bowling a no-ball, leading to bans on three cricketers. The ICC Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) has been tough on cricket boards and franchise leagues, which has helped avoid such incidents since then. 

As a bettor, you must protect your stakes against these illegal activities that can lead to significant losses. Here are a few red flags that you must take note of while betting 

• Unexplained shifts in betting odds are a danger sign, and you must avoid placing bets if you notice such suspicious activity. 
• Small and unregulated leagues are often the den of corruption, and you must exercise caution while betting.
• Unknown bookmakers luring you with unbelievable odds is a sign of danger best avoided. 

Risk Mitigation Strategies

• Research – Do thorough research on teams, player stats, and match conditions before betting.
• Bankroll Management – Avoid betting more than you can afford to lose, and don’t bet on borrowed money. 
• No Emotions – Take it as entertainment and not your profession. Make decisions based on research and logic, not emotions.
• Licensed Bookmakers – Bet only on regulated platforms that monitor for unusual betting behavior.

Traditional cricket terminology

If you are new to the game of cricket, you must familiarize yourself with the common cricket terminology. Here are some of the most common terms used in the game – 

• Pitch – It is a central rectangular strip in the center of the ground where batters bat and the bowlers bowl. 
• Crease – These are marked lines on either end of the pitch that determine the safe zones for batters and bowlers.
• Stumps – These are wooden posts, and there is a set of three stumps at either end of the pitch. 
• Bails – Two small pieces usually made of wood, balanced on top of the stumps. They have to be dislodged to get a batter bowled, stumped, or run out.
• Wicket – It refers to a dismissal of a batter. The batting team has 10 wickets during an innings. 
• Over – A set of six legal deliveries bowled by a bowler from one end.
• Batter – One of the two people representing the batting team on the pitch. The person striking is called the striker, and the batter on the opposite end is called the non-striker. 
• Bowler – The person rolling his arms and bowling at the batters. 
• Fast Bowler – A type of bowler who bowls at pace with a long run-up. 
• Spinner – A person who turns the ball off the surface. Depending on which way they turn the ball, they can be categorized as leg or off spinner. 
• Innings – A team’s or batter’s turn to bat until dismissed or the allotted overs end.
• Sessions – A period of play during a Test Match, usually 30 overs. A day’s play has Morning Session, Lunch Session, and Post-Tea Session. 
• Run – It is the unit of scoring, achieved when batters change ends or hit the ball over the boundary.
• Boundary – The perimeter of the playing area. Hitting the ball here scores four or six runs.
• Maiden Over – An over in which bowlers prevent batters from scoring any runs with the bat.
• Duck – A batter getting out without scoring. Getting out on the first ball is termed a Golden Duck. 
• Century – A score of 100 or more runs by a batter in a single innings. A score of 50 and above is termed a half-century. 
• Fifer – A bowler picking up five or more wickets in an innings is known as a fifer. 
• Hat-trick – A bowler dismissing three batters on three consecutive deliveries is termed a hat-trick.
• Yorker – A ball that pitches right at the batter’s feet near the base of the stumps.
• Bouncer – A short-pitched delivery that rises sharply towards the batter’s upper body or head.
• Wicketkeeper – A fielding position right behind the wickets. Wicketkeepers are allowed to wear gloves and pads to protect themselves. 
• Slip – A fielding position behind the batter on the off-side for catching edged balls.
• Nightwatchman – A lower-order batter sent in late in the day to protect key batters during the final overs of the last session.
• Follow-on – When the team batting second is made to bat again immediately due to a large first-innings deficit (200 or more in Test cricket)
• Declaration – When the batting side’s captain ends the innings voluntarily from a position of strength without losing all wickets.

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