Introduction
Limited overs’ matches first began to be played in the 1960s, and soon caught on with the general public, especially younger, busier people, who appreciated the fact that a game would be decided in a single day.
The first ODI was played in 1981, and since then they have proliferated, often taking the place of test matches.
Whilst the need to do research first is as important for ODI cricket as it is for test matches, there are certain key differences between the wo which should inform any betting strategy.
Balls
Test cricket uses a red ball which, in certain conditions can swing a lot. ODI cricket uses a white ball which hardly swings at all after the first five overs. This negates the impact of swing bowlers.
Pitches
Test groundsmen often prepare pitches which will suit the home side later in the match. This does not factor in one day matches.
Skills
Not all players are suited to both formats of the game. Some players have the temperament for test cricket, with the need to be cautious and play themselves in or tie down an end with their bowling. However, one day international cricket requires more o an attacking approach, which not everybody possesses.
Style of Play
Allied to this is style of play. In one day, cricket, batsmen are encouraged to score runs even against the best bowlers. At the same time, they know that bowlers are limited to ten overs each, so some may choose to wait until less skilful bowlers are introduced into the attack.
There are also two other factors that need to be considered.
Format of the Competition
When betting, it is important to check the format of the competition first, to determine if a draw is allowed, or if the organisers will use a decider like a Super Over or number of wickets lost to determine a winner.
DLS
Often, rain or other weather conditions may interrupt a match, and the number of overs a side will be reduced, or the total team has to chase adjusted. Matches employ a formula called Duckworth-Lewis-Stern in this case to amend the overs and totals. So, it is important to check the weather conditions before betting to decide if this is likely to be a factor.
These are some of the most popular bets in One day cricket.
Match Winner
This is the most popular bet of them all and involves determining the overall winner of the match. Depending on the format of the competition, there may only be two outcomes though, with a draw not a possibility.
Top Batsman
This is a bet on who will score the most runs, for either side, or in the match as a whole. It is worth remembering that those at the top of an innings often have an advantage because they get to play the Powerplay, when the fielding team has to keep so many men in a circle and cannot just post them around the boundary.
Top Bowler
This is a bet on who will take the most wickets in a match. Always bear in mind that a bowler will have a maximum of ten overs, and the quality of the batsmen they face can be an important factor.
Over/Under
This popular betting option for all sports will see the bookmaker set a mark for the number of runs they expect to be scored in a day. The bet is to wager on either more (over) or less (under) runs than that mark.
Man of the Match
In one day, cricket, even more so than test matches, which tend to be more team efforts, one player can often make all the difference – with the bat, the ball, or for his efforts in the field.
Most Run Outs
Run outs are far more common in Odis then they are in test cricket, because of the pressure involved, either to score quick runs to set a total, or to chase down a score. This bet involves estimating which team will have the most run outs in a match.
Combination Bets
For the skilled player, they may want to combine several bets in one – for example, match winner, with top run scorer or best bowler. The odds on such bets – often called accumulator or parley bets – will be more attractive, but the chances of the bet failing are correspondingly higher.
