Cricket Propositions Bets
| Updated: November 6, 2025
Proposition betting is usually considered a more advanced type of wagering. As such, it provides many opportunities to apply your cricket knowledge and turn it into profit. The apparent complexity of these predictions should not discourage you. If you continue reading about cricket and watching different matches, you will begin to understand some of the sport’s finer aspects and realize that it is up to you to turn a difficult prediction into a successful bet.
The so-called props are a special type of wager dealing with elements of a cricket match that are not related to the eventual winner. These include, but are not limited to, how many runs a team will score after the first innings, who will win the toss, whether a player will score 100+ runs, and so on. It is fun to place proposition bets because you never know exactly which markets bookmakers will provide on the eve of big cricket matches. There are no bet type limits and no entertainment limits. However, do not forget that props are a high-risk betting option, so carefully consider whether they are the right choice for you.
Innings Runs
Betting on the number of runs scored in an innings of a cricket match is a relatively popular wagering method among sports betting fans. Punters can either bet on the exact number of runs or predict whether the total will be over or under a threshold set by the online bookmaker. The number of innings is not always the same; it depends on the match format. In first-class cricket events, there are up to four innings, while in limited-over matches there are only two, which means each team bats once. Depending on the event’s rules, additional shortened innings are possible in the case of a tie.
The Innings Runs bet variation that is most common on online betting platforms is the First Innings Runs market. In an Over/Under bet you will never see an exact number. Why? The answer is simple: if the team scores that exact number of runs, the bets would be neither winning nor losing. This way of presenting Over/Under totals is also used in other sports such as football, basketball, and ice hockey.
| England Total Runs 1st Innings 276.5 | |
|---|---|
| Over | Under |
| 1.61 | 2.20 |
| England Total Runs 1st Innings 301.5 | |
| Over | Under |
| 1.83 | 1.83 | England Total Runs 1st Innings 326.5 |
| Over | Under |
| 2.20 | 1.61 |
An alternative form of the Innings Runs market is the Par Score bet, which shows how many runs a team is expected to score when it bats first in an ODI or T20 match. We are not focusing on Test cricket matches, not because there are no par scores, but because their significance is much lower as teams can bat up to four times. Shorter cricket formats, on the other hand, require setting a total through only one attempt. When doing research before placing your bet, there are several factors to check: historical data for teams batting first on that particular field, the current wicket, any injuries to key batsmen, and so on.
Method of Dismissal
Betting on the next method of dismissal is an entirely different way of wagering on cricket matches because it is performed while the match is unfolding. In this way, you can not only enjoy watching your favorite sport but also gain significant profit if your short-term prediction is correct. In essence, this type of cricket bet simply requires you to predict how the batsman at the crease will be dismissed. Usually, online bookmakers offer either 6-way or 2-way betting. The most common options are caught, bowled, LBW, run out, stumped, and other. As you can see from the table below, the odds for the different methods of dismissal vary widely, reflecting their probability of occurring. The example uses real data from a Test match between England and the West Indies.
| England Method of 4th Dismissal 1st Innings | |
|---|---|
| Fielder Catch (excluding Wicket Keeper) | 1.83 |
| Bowled | 4.33 |
| Keeper Catch | 4.00 |
| LBW | 5.00 |
| Run Out | 26.00 |
| Stumped | 51.00 |
| Other | 201.00 |
Here is a brief description of the main dismissal methods in cricket matches.
Caught
The explanation here is straightforward. A dismissal is announced if the batsman hits the ball and it is caught by a fielder before it hits the ground. It is no wonder this method has the lowest betting odds because it occurs more frequently than the other methods of dismissal. The informal term “caught behind” refers to a batsman being caught by a wicket-keeper. If the ball strikes the edge of the bat, the batsman is entitled to stand his ground and wait for the umpire to decide whether he is out.
Bowled
A batsman is considered bowled out if a legal delivery by the opposing bowler hits the wicket and puts it down. For a wicket to be declared down, it is enough if even one bail is dislodged and falls to the ground. It does not matter whether the ball hits the stumps directly or is deflected from the bat or the batsman’s body. Usually, this method of dismissal is obvious and does not require the intervention of an umpire.
Leg Before Wicket (LBW)
The main purpose of the LBW law is to prevent batsmen from intentionally blocking the wicket with their legs or any other part of the body. If it is judged that a legal delivery would have hit the stumps but instead strikes any part of the batsman’s body first, he is dismissed. This is the most complex dismissal method to judge, and it inevitably involves an umpire’s decision. However, the batsman will not be given out if the ball pitches outside the leg stump line, even if it would otherwise have hit the stumps.
Run Out and Stumped
A batsman is considered run out if, while the ball is in play, a fielder puts down the wicket at a moment when the batsman is out of his ground. To meet the conditions of this method, no part of the batsman’s bat or body must be grounded behind the popping crease. Such a situation generally occurs when the batsman is running between the wickets, attempting to score the next run. A batsman is not deemed out if a straight drive he plays breaks the non-striker’s stumps while he is outside the crease. In a similar situation, if the batsman is not attempting a run but has just left the relevant crease to play the ball, he is considered stumped.
Coin Toss
The coin toss is the first element of a cricket match and is performed half an hour before play begins. Traditionally, the home captain tosses the coin and the visiting captain calls heads or tails. Many passionate cricket fans consider that the game starts not with the first ball of the first over but with the toss. If you are new to online sports betting, you may be surprised that the toss is not only a cricket betting market but a very popular one.
Punters who place a Coin Toss Winner bet simply predict which team will win the toss; the winning captain will then decide whether to bat or bowl first. This is an even-chance proposition bet that relies on pure luck, with no external factors affecting the outcome.
So, does the coin toss have a real impact on the game? Every cricket team has a strategy for how it will play if it wins the toss. Correctly calling the coin allows the team to start the match in the manner in which it feels most comfortable.