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Everything You Need to Know About Cricket

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Amir Pelavin
Everything You Need to Know About Cricket

Believe it or not, cricket is not just popular in India. It is also played in Australia, Pakistan, West Indies, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, South Africa, and England. If you are not familiar with cricket, it is basically a bat-and-ball game played between two teams with 11 players on each side. The captain who wins the toss decides whether his team will bowl or bat first.  

With the increasing popularity of cricket, there is no doubt it is one of the most-awaited sporting events. What’s interesting is that there is also a lot of drama involved.

Cricket Formats 

Cricket is played in different formats. This is the reason why you should know the basics of the sport before you enter the world of cricket betting. To give you an overview, here are different cricket formats you need to know:  

Test Cricket 

It is regarded as the oldest form of cricket played in 5 days with 3 sessions. It is also the game’s highest standard. This type of format is only played by teams with a Test status granted by the International Cricket Council (ICC).  

One Day Cricket (ODI) 

Also known as Limited Overs International (LOI), it is played in one day with a total of 50 overs for each team. It is also played by teams with an international status. What’s interesting is that the ICC can also grant a permanent, temporary, and special ODI status. 

T20 Cricket

It is basically the shortened format of cricket. T20 cricket is usually played in one afternoon or evening with a total of 20 overs. It is also the highest domestic and international cricket format.

Cricket Leagues 

It might not be obvious but cricket has some of the most attended and exciting leagues in the world. Some of these are: 

Indian Premier League (IPL)

It is a professional T20 league usually played every March, April, and May that takes place in India. There are a total of eight participating teams to represent the eight cities of India. The IPL was also established by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in 2007. 

Here are the eight participating teams of IPL: 

  • Chennai Super Kings 
  • Royal Challengers Bangalore
  • Mumbai Indians
  • Kolkata Knight Riders
  • Sunrisers Hyderabad
  • Punjab Kings
  • Delhi Capitals
  • Rajasthan Royals 

Big Bash League (BBL)

It is an Australian professional T20 league with six participating teams. The BBL is also recognized as one of the top ten domestic sports leagues based on its annual average attendance. This league is usually played in December, January, and February. It is also sponsored by KFC since it was founded in 2011. 

Here are the six participating teams of BBL: 

  • Adelaide Strikers
  • Brisbane Heat
  • Hobart Hurricanes
  • Melbourne Renegades
  • Melbourne Stars
  • Perth Scorchers
  • Sydney Sixers
  • Sydney Thunder

Pakistan Super League (PSL)

Compared to the previously mentioned leagues, the league is controlled by investors. It is also played from February to March in a double round-robin format. There are a total of six teams who will be competing for the top four spots to play in the PSL Cup Final. These are:

  • Islamabad United
  • Karachi Kings
  • Lahore Qalandars
  • Multan Sultans
  • Peshawar Zalmi
  • Quetta Gladiators

T20 Blast

Also known as the Twenty20 Cup, it is basically a league for English and Welsh first-class counties. T20 Blast was established by the English and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in 2003. It is also recognized as one of the top-level T20 competitions in the region. 

There are a total of 18 teams divided into Northern and Southern divisions. These are: 

Southern Division 

  • Essex Eagles
  • Glamorgan
  • Gloucestershire
  • Hampshire
  • Kent Spitfires
  • Middlesex
  • Somerset
  • Surrey
  • Sussex Sharks

Northern Division

  • Derbyshire Falcons
  • Durham
  • Lancashire Lightning
  • Leicestershire Foxes
  • Northamptonshire Steelbacks
  • Notts Outlaws (Nottinghamshire)
  • Birmingham Bears (Warwickshire)
  • Worcestershire Rapids
  • Yorkshire Vikings

ICC World Cricket League

It is basically composed of a series of ODIs for national teams who do not have Test status. What’s great is that all of the associate members of the ICC are allowed to join. On the other hand, the goal of this league is to provide a qualification system for the World Cup and also an opportunity for teams to play with other opponents of the same level. 

Here are the participating teams of this league:

  • Ireland
  • Netherlands
  • Namibia
  • Kenya
  • Uganda
  • United Arab Emirates 

Cricket Stadiums

Cricket is also known for its stadiums. To give you an overview, here are some of the popular cricket stadiums you should know:

  • Eden Gardens- it is the oldest and second-largest cricket stadium in India. In fact, it is the home ground of the Kolkata Knight Riders 
  • Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)- it is where the first Test match was held. It is also known as the largest cricket stadium in the Southern Hemisphere. Aside from cricket, it is where the Australian Football League (AFL) matches are held 
  • Lord’s Cricket Ground- it also referred to as the ‘Home of Cricket’ and the world’s richest stadium. It is where Sourav Ganguly took his shirt off and waved it around to celebrate the team’s victory
  • Adelaide Oval- it is known for its almost perfect modern architectural design. It is also where teams sports such as rugby union and rugby league are held 
  • Wankhede Stadium- it is known to host several cricket matches since it was built. It also witnessed how India became the first county to win in their home ground during the 2011 Cricket World Cup 

When it comes to cricket betting, it is highly recommended to understand how the odds and betting markets work. Some of the most common betting markets are:

  • Top Bowler
  • Top Batsman
  • Man of the Match
  • To Win the Match
  • Total Runs in the Match
  • Highest Individual Score
  • First Wicket Method
  • Total Match Sixes
  • Most Match Fours  

With this, it will be much easier to place your bets. It is also best to compare the odds and make sure that the sportsbook site is regulated and licensed to operate. No matter how fun it is, you should still set a betting limit and do not bet the money you can’t afford to lose. 

What are you waiting for? Place your cricket bets!

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Amir Pelavin
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