The first test between Australia and South Africa was one of those games which typifies the excitement that spread betting can add to test match cricket. The Aussies started off reasonably well, holding a decent 84-run advantage after both teams had batted once. Even after their 319 all out in the second innings, spread bettors the world over would have been hitting the buy button in Australia’s win index. South Africa not only hadn’t won Down Under since January 1994, but a successful chase of 414 would have been the second greatest chase ever in the history of cricket. It was a similar story at the MCG in Melbourne, as the South African’s ended the second day nearly 200 runs down on their hosts. As with India against England though, international cricket sides have the capabilities to register massive chasing scores and the spread betting public are wise to make sure they constantly monitor their in-running positions.
After Melbourne, the sides move onto Sydney and although that was the last place the Springboks won in Australia prior to their amazing test victories last week, it has not been a happy hunting ground since. Buyers of Australia’s spread supremacy will be glad to hear that the winning margin in the last three tests has been by 8 wickets, 10 wickets and an innings and 21 runs. Of course, these are two very different sides now, but the home side’s record at the 44,000 capacity ground is pretty astonishing – winning 12 of their last 14 tests here and only losing one to England in 2003. It tends to be a high scoring ground and those spread punters looking to buy Aussie innings runs will take heart that they scored 864 runs in both innings in their last test here against India. Those who like cricket spread betting invariably have a punt on batsmen’s runs and one player who has done well at this venue recently is Andrew Symonds. His average in his last three innings is a paltry 136!
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Cricket Spreads Betting - 31 Oct 08
The widely criticised Stanford Super Series reaches its climax on Saturday and those interested in cricket spread betting could be in for a real treat if Pietersen and his men go all out for victory. They have a fair shout and buyers of his match performance (where you are awarded a point per run, 10 per catch, 20 per wicket and 25 per stumping) will be pleased to hear that the captain is England’s top overall scorer in Twenty20 with 412 runs. Sellers of his performance on the spreads will be even more worried that KP is the joint top individual innings scorer for England, along with Paul Collingwood with 79 runs, and he has taken the most catches for the side (7).
No England player has ever scored a century for the national side at Twenty20 and only eight 50’s had been made before the start of the Stanford Tournament. With performance spread betting in cricket, it often pays to side with the bowlers and buyers of Paul Collingwood performance have a lot to cheer about. Colly now tops England’s T20 bowlers, with 15 wickets from 16 matches, but alongside this, his 339 runs from 15 innings also show that he is one to keep firmly on the right side of.
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Cricket Spreads Betting - 29 Aug 08
England face South Africa at the Oval on Friday and Lord’s on Sunday, as they try to build on Tuesday’s incredible performance at Trent Bridge. Cricket is the perfect sport for spread betting, as it so ‘number-focused’, and those spread punters who sided with England would have been watching with huge grins on their faces. Matthew Prior, England’s wicketkeeper and opening batsman, had been available to buy in the Sporting Index player performance market at 40 prior to the game (where you are awarded 1 point per run, 10 points per catch, 20 points per wicket and 25 points per stumping), but this was soon moved up, as he took six catches in the South Africa innings. He then went on to score 45 runs, making a final total of 105 – cue cheers of delight from the buyers at 40.
Buyers of England supremacy in Friday’s game will be encouraged to learn that they have now won all of the last four ODI’s they’ve played against the Proteas on home soil, which has included a 7-wicket win at Lord’s and a 6-wicket win at the Oval. The English player performance spreads will be watched with interest, seeing as England have been so accomplished with the bat in this series. Captain Kevin Pietersen is undoubtedly the star man and buyers of his performance will be hoping he can continue his fine record against the country of his birth. He has already top scored in this series with 90 not out at Headingley, whilst he has four of the highest 12 scores in one-day history between the two countries.
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Cricket Spreads Betting - 17 Jul 08
Spread bettors would have faced numerous different emotions during the cracking first test between England and South Africa at Lord’s last week. The balance to-ed and fro-ed throughout the five days and Sporting Index now have the South Africans as marginal favourites in the series win index after their brave fight-back. Those who had bought Pietersen and Bell series runs before the start of the first test will have been feeling pretty happy after their monster partnership, but Pietersen is still expected to score more runs in the series, despite registering 47 less than his team-mate at Lord’s. Their respective spreads for the remaining three tests are 405-425 and 395-415.
England have a strong recent record at Headingley, beating West Indies last spring by an innings and 283 runs. Buyers of them in the match index will be further encouraged that they also won their two previous tests here, against Pakistan and New Zealand, by 167 runs and 9 wickets respectively. However, supporters of the Springboks in the match index also have reason to be confident, as the South Africans won their last test here in 2003 by 191 runs. Many punters will wait for the toss to play their hand and the stats suggest that this may be a wise option. England won the toss each time in their last three victories here, whilst they lost the toss in their last two defeats, including against South Africa in 2003.
The batsmen certainly bossed the opening test at Lord’s and those spread bettors who like to buy individual batsman’s runs will be hoping for more of the same at Leeds. There were five centuries scored last week, which led to a total of 201 in Sporting Index’s ton-ups market (where you are awarded points for every run scored over 100). Buyers will be hoping for more of the same and will be encouraged that the last two ton-ups totals here have been 129 and 235. However, sellers will take heart from there only being two centuries in the last two tests between the countries at this ground, with final make-ups of only 30 and 16.
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Cricket Spreads Betting - 10 Jul 08
The first test between England and South Africa will already be underway by the time you’re reading this, but there are still some interesting stats for spread bettors to get their teeth into. South Africa are the 51-55 to England’s 38-42 favourites in the Sporting Index series win index (where you are awarded 25 points per victory and 10 per draw), but they haven’t won a test series on English soil since 1965. The last series back in 2003 saw some heavy wins, perfect spread betting punters who have a strong view on the outcome this time round. However, those who fancy one side in the series win index should be aware that in the post-Apartheid era each side has won two of the six series, with the other two being drawn.
The Lord’s test will have already started by now, but for Springboks followers, their side have a tremendous record at the home of cricket. They were available to buy at 13.5 in the match win index prior to the test (again, when you are awarded 25 points for the win, 10 for the draw and 0 points for a defeat). The last three test matches they’ve played at NW8 have all been victories, but it is the manner of these victories that has particularly impressed. In 1994 they won by 356 runs, in 1998 by 10 wickets and most recently, in 2003 by an innings and 92 runs. Sporting Index have a market called ‘An innings and...’ which sets a quote on the number of runs either team wins a test by more than an innings. South Africa’s spread for the series is 26-32, so if they were to repeat the 2003 performance at Lord’s, buyers would be looking at a profit of 60 points after the first test alone.
The spread betting public are likely to be out in force to play the Series Runs markets and buyers of South African captain Graeme Smith at 355 will be hoping for a repeat of the 2003 series when he notched an outstanding 259 here. That came only a week after he’d scored the highest ever total between England and South Africa in a test with 277 runs at Edgbaston. Those who had bought his match runs at around 44 in the early spread would have made a huge profit. However, sellers will be much happier to hear that he has been in relatively poor nick of late. Sellers of England’s individual batsmen’s runs will also be delighted to learn that twinkle toes Darren Gough top scored in the first innings at Lord’s with only 34.
The bowlers will have a big part to play in the series and spread bettors will be interested in the performances of man-of-the-moment Dale Steyn. The bookies have priced him up as 210-225 in their series bowling index (where you are awarded 10 points per wicket and 25 points per 5-wicket haul), which is 30 points higher than any other bowler on either team. Steyn has the best strike-rate in the modern game (an astonishing 35.8) and he became the fastest ever Springbok bowler to take 100 wickets – in just 20 tests. However, it was his fast-bowling colleague Makhaya Ntini (whose spread is markedly lower at 145-160) who was the star of the show last time at Lord’s. Buyers of him at 160 will be delighted to hear that he took 5 wickets in each innings on his last visit to the home of cricket.
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Cricket Spreads Betting - 13 Jun 08
It is undoubtedly a battle of the Kiwis against England this weekend, as the cricketers also face up to each other for a Twenty20 game at Old Trafford on Friday. Punters hoping to buy England’s supremacy will be hoping they win the toss, as the only two times they’ve played Twenty20 against New Zealand they’ve batted first and gone on to win (February 2008). Each time they registered similar totals and suffered the exact same wicket loss, with innings of 184 for 8 and 193 for 8. Another interesting stat is that in both of these games England registered exactly double New Zealand’s sixes, with eight to the Kiwis four in the first match and ten to five in the second. Punters buying total sixes will be hoping for some power-packed hitting from Messrs Pieterson and McCullum, who only managed eight runs between them in the last Twenty20 match.
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Cricket Spreads Betting - 23 May 08
Mother Nature certainly played her part at Lords last week and although England at one stage looked like they might be able to register an unlikely win, Jacob Oram’s gutsy ton ended all hopes. The players move onto Old Trafford this weekend and buyers of England in the win index at 18 (where you are awarded 25 points for a win, 10 points for a draw and 0 points for a defeat) will be delighted to hear that England have won four and drawn one of their last five tests at the Manchester venue. The draw in question, you will probably remember, was in 2005 when Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee managed to repel England’s committed attack.
New Zealand have only won one of their past 27 away tests against major cricketing nations. They also haven’t won any of their last 11 second tests in a series when they had avoided defeat in the first.
Old Trafford tests are often decided on the toss of a coin, so punters may be best to hold their bets until the toss has been made. All of the last 12 captains to win the toss in Manchester have opted to bat and in 12 of the last 13 tests there, the team batting first has gone on to win the match, with the other being a rain-interrupted draw. In-play punters will be intrigued to hear that no team has lost a test match at Old Trafford when they have put on at least 50 for the opening wicket in the first innings of the match since 1886 (there have been 20 examples of this since then).
England often start well at Manchester and in four of the last five tests here they have held at least a 140-run first innings lead, which will please those buying England’s first innings supremacy at 95. There will also be plenty of interest in batsman’s runs. Michael Vaughan has recorded two of his best centuries on this ground and has a decent average of 52.90. England’s golden boy Kevin Pieterson doesn’t seem to have taken to the Old Trafford track though and sellers of his match runs at 85 will be delighted to hear that he only averages just over 27 runs at this ground. Alastair Cook’s runs can be bought at 82 and buyers will take great heart from his record here, averaging 97.67 from 293 runs. Ian Bell also enjoys the track and sellers of his match runs at 68 will be worried that he averages 82.25.
Old Trafford has always had a strong wicket for spinners and although no-one is likely to repeat Jim Laker’s 19-wicket match haul in 1956, the Monty fans will more than likely be out in force. He has a tremendous record here and buyers of his bowling index at 53 (where you are awarded 10 points per wicket and 25 points per 5-wicket haul) will be hoping that he can repeat his form at the Manchester ground, where he has taken 18 wickets from two test matches, averaging only 15.56. Lance Gibbs (23 wickets at 15.6) and Shane Ward (21 wickets at 20.04) are two other spinners who have felt at home on the Old Trafford surface.
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Cricket Spread Betting Example
Cricket runs are is one of the most volatile markets in spread betting. An innings can often last more than a day, and there are plenty opportunities to have a bet. Here is a hypothetical innings, with the thoughts of a typical punter:
Australia win the toss and put England into bat. It's a cloudy Thursday morning at Headingley, and the Aussies are at full strength.
Ian Botham has aired his pitch report and suggests that the match will struggle to last three days. The total England runs spread is 220-240. You have your 1st trade:
Sell England Runs @220 for £3 per run
You want England to score less than 220 runs, and you are risking £3 for every run that you are right or wrong. Be sure to understand your maximum loss. In this case, in theory England could score 500 and you would lose £840 (£3 per run x (500 runs -220 runs).
There are a number of factors to consider before having a cricket bet, these include - teams, injuries, location, weather, pitch and what the experts say. The commentators are often a good guide as to the condition of the pitch. Particular quirks are that Boycott as a former batsman, will always describe the pitch as a batsmans paradise, while Willis will moan about the bowlers not getting as much out of the pitch as they should do. Botham will always favour England and David Lloyd always talks of a collapse as soon as a wicket goes down. Don't be alarmed if the cricket runs market moves 20-30 points before the 1st ball is bowled.
A hesitant start for England and then suddenly. Excellent- Strauss nicks one to the slips. Cook goes LBW and suddenly it's 12 for 2.
The bookies update the spread through out the day, it’s now England to score 155 runs -170 runs.
If you were to “Buy England runs” at 170 runs for £3, you would "close" your bet, winning a risk free £150 (£3 runs x (220 runs – 170 runs)).
However in this case you are so confident that England will struggle to get 150 that you have another bet.
Sell England Runs @ 155 runs for £2 per run
You are now risking £5 per run. You would break level at 194 - Calculated by (220 runs x 3 per run + 155 runs x 2 run ) / 5 per run.
Vaughan nicks a couple through the slips for four and Pietersen plays a top-edged hook for 6. They look like getting out every ball but the runs are coming thick and fast. At the mid-interval break, England have suddenly reached 52/2.
The bookies update the spread, it’s now England to score 185 runs -200 runs). You can't take a profit now, so you to sit tight.
Lunch time and England are 87/2 (the England spread is now 235 runs – 250 runs). Your lunchtime sandwich tastes stale and your coke flat. The clouds have lifted to reveal blue sky. The commentators are contemplating a big innings. You wife is irritating you. Surely the Aussies are too powerful, but have you got this one wrong? You want England to win but each boundary is costing another £20 (4 runs x £5 per run). Sod it, patriotism takes over and you completely change your position.
Your Buy England Runs @ 250 runs for £10 per run
Now you want England to pile on the runs to the tune of £5 per run.
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Your overall position:
Your 1st two bets are closed for a loss of £90
Bet 1: £3 per run x (220 runs – 250 runs) = £3 per run x -30 runs = -£90 Loss
Bet 2: £2 per run x (155 runs – 250 runs) = £2 per run x -95 runs = -£190 Loss
Bet 3: £5 per run @ 250, Bet open.
Sure enough, England smash the Aussies all over the park. A freak runout does little to halt the onslaught and England reach 160/3 at tea.
The sports spread betting bookies now quote the England spread @ 315 runs – 330 runs.
The coke has been replaced by Red Wine and your wife looks attractive again. Wisely, you decide to close your bet and pat yourself on the back for a good days work.
Your sell England Runs @ 315 runs for £5 per run Your overall position:
Bet 1: £3 per run x (220 runs – 250 runs) = £3 per run x -30 runs = -£90 Loss
Bet 2: £2 per run x (155 runs – 250 runs) = £2 per run x -95 runs = -£190 Loss
Bet 3: £5 per run x (315 runs – 250 runs) = £5 per run x 65 runs = -£325 profit
Overall profit = £45
England collapse to 205 all out. You heave a big sigh of relief and treat your wife to a special meal out...costing no more than £45...OK you treat her to a takeaway.
As you can see, emotions sway violently, profits turn to losses very quickly. Be prepared for a rollercoaster ride and only bet with money you can afford to lose.
Cricket Spread Betting Notes:
Minimum bets can be as low as 50p per run. If you have a Sporting Index Shield Account there are Stop Losses of 200 runs. That means that if you are more than 200 runs wrong, then you are only billed for 200 times your stake. Of course when you are right by more than 200 runs your profits are also closed off at 200 times your stake.
Maximum bets can be as high as £200 or even £500. Imagine if England had scored 400 and you had sold for £500 per run!? It’s best to leave these bets for the really big boys.
Many cricket markets are updated after every ball and you can call at any time for the latest quote.
There are plenty of different markets to choose from in Cricket. These include Batsmen Runs, Bowlers Wickets, Fall of the Next Wicket etc.
But before you bet, do your research. There are plenty of websites that give in-depth stats and have a database full of recent test-matches. Be sure to look up recent games on that ground, this often gives a good pointer to the pitch and therefore an average score.
'Cricket Spread Betting', guide by D. Jones, last update: 2-Jan-09
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