Top Bowler Betting Do’s and Don’ts (2024)

How to Bet on Top Bowler

The Top Bowler cricket betting market – also sometimes referred to as Top Wicket-Taker betting – will see you backing the player that you believe will finish the match with the most wickets. As a sport, cricket – whether T20, ODI or Test – is one that can turn in a second with a few well-placed deliveries. Whether they are an unbelievably fiery fast bowler, a big turning spinner or a swing bowler that turns the ball into the batsman’s pads, these players are always looking to get one over on their batting counterparts.

While the market itself is simple to understand, there are a few important factors that you should be aware of.

• You are betting on the player that you believe will take the most wickets.
• The market is oriented around first innings. In a Test match, each side can have up to two innings, but only the top bowler from the first innings will be counted.
• Bowlers must usually bowl at least one ball for bets to be counted.
• If a bowler does not bowl at all because they are not needed, injured during the game or the match ends before they bowl, then your bet will not be voided – it will lose.
• In the events of a tie, bets are quite often voided.
• If there is a reduction in the number of overs in a limited-overs game (T20 or ODI), depending on the bookmaker, bets will quite often be voided.

Most will state that the biggest names in the game are always the way to go for Top Bowler betting. For example, the likes of James Anderson, Mitchell Starc, Trent Boult and Jasprit Bumrah take wickets in abundance, and rank amongst the very best on their day.

However, backing the big names does not always offer the best odds, and it is not always the shrewdest investment, which is something we will go into in more detail later.

*Odds correct at 15:21 BST on 29/3/2021

Top Bowler Betting Tips

Below, we have compiled a few useful tips on Top Bowler betting that are worth taking into account.

1. Read the Pitch Report

When it comes to bowling, the pitch report is incredibly important. It will tell you everything you need to know about which bowlers will likely excel, who might struggle, and what the pitch will do as the game progresses. In a Test match, for example, the pitch may start off lush and green, and with weather conditions overcast, it means that swing bowling will likely feature prominently in the match. It may also allude to the fact that the pitch will dry up and crack quickly, resulting in spin bowling becoming more dangerous as the match goes on.

In ODI and T20 cricket, the pitch report and how the pitch would likely deteriorate is not quite as important, as here, matches are over within a day, meaning it will stay largely the same. However, in the limited-overs format, you should be aware of how quick the outfield is. This can be the difference between the ball flying off the bat to the boundary rope and it getting stuck in the pitch. When the ball does not reach the ropes often, it puts pressure on the batsmen, and can see them make uncharacteristic mistakes.

2. Know Your Formats

As mentioned above, the format of the game is very important. Different bowlers are more effective in a Test match than they would be during a T20 game. For example, James Anderson of the England team is a superb exponent of swing bowling with the red ball, and is the all-time leading pace bowling wicket-taker in Tests. While he often cleans up in the longest format, he would likely struggle in a 20-over game, as the white ball does not swing as much. Recognising the style of bowlers who excel in a certain format is very important in cricket betting.

3. Don’t Blindly Back Big Names

The temptation to only ever bet on big names is one that is commonly shared by novice bettors, or those who haven't done their research properly. This is the easy option, where you just back someone or something you're already familiar with or know well. For Top Bowler betting, this is not always a good idea. As mentioned, the pitch and format of the game will have a big impact on which players will excel. Although a player could have 30 wickets in their last five ODI matches, they may still be a part time-bowler in the Test side, as they'll have to play second-fiddle to the strike partnership in the team.

4. Look for Good Odds

The Top Bowler betting market generally offers pretty good odds, as there are so many players that could take the most wickets. Trent Boult may be New Zealand’s premier strike-bowler, but his popularity means that likes of Lockie Ferguson, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee and more will all offer good odds too. All in all, research is vital to ensure you get a nice profit, should your wagers be successful.

5. The Venue

If a game is being played in India then spin bowling will have a big impact on the match, as the pitches are often dry, cracked and dusty. In Australia, meanwhile, the blazing sun and dry conditions mean that fast and aggressive bowling will be prominent. Similarly, some teams and players may have struggled in the past at a certain stadium, which could result in something of a mental block, making them a bit of a risky bet.

6. Player Calendars

Backing a bowler that is a handful of matches into the new cricketing year will likely mean you are wagering on a player that is still physically fresh, but back in their stride. Backing a player that is a few games away from the end of the year will mean relying on a mind and body that are fatigued, possibly resulting in performances that are below par. Ensure you know where a player is in their schedule before you back them.

How to Live Stream Cricket Matches

There are usually a few requirements you need to adhere to for live cricket streaming, as well as other sports matches in general. We've listed the most common of these below.

• Have a positive balance – This means you must have some money in your account (usually more than £1).
• Have a bet placed in the last 24 hours – This is as simple as it sounds. You must have placed a bet on any event in the last 24 hours in order to be able to stream.
• Have a bet placed on the match you want to watch – Similar to the above, this requirement means that you must have placed a bet on the match you wish to live stream.
• Pay a small fee – This is an uncommon requirement, but it does sometimes appear. When an event costs the bookie a larger sum than usual, they may request a small fee to go some way to covering the cost of showing the match.
• No requirements – While this may seem too good to be true, it is not. Some bookies will offer you the ability to live stream certain events as long as you are signed in with them. This is the best case scenario if you are simply looking to watch a match, although the betting requirements of most sites are usually negligible anyway.

Apart from requirements such as the above, you should also be aware that some sports and matches are subject to a delay. This can just a few seconds or much longer, depending on your connection and network congestion.

However, this delay can also be to ensure that bettors are on a level field for in-play betting. A delay of up to 15 seconds, for example, allows bookies to suspend markets when there is a significant occurrence during a match, such as a century or a wicket.

Best Tournaments for Top Bowler Betting

The Top Bowler betting market is best used for the biggest cricket competitions in the world, during which many of the greatest bowlers will grace the field. Below, we have listed the biggest competitions that the best betting sites offer this market for.

The Ashes

The Ashes is the oldest and most hotly contested Test cricket rivalry in the sport. Played out between England and Australia, the Ashes sees one side touring the other in a five-match series that sees the best of the two cricketing nations face off against each other. Some of the truly great Test performances have happened during an Ashes Test, with the likes of Ian Botham, Andrew Flintoff, Steve Smith and Ben Stokes all excelling.

Whether you are a fan of Test cricket or not, the Ashes is a contest that transcends the game itself.

Pakistan vs India

Not to be outdone by The Ashes, India vs Pakistan is just intense, with some incredibly hard-fought battles being played out between the sides. While the two have not played one another very much over the last decade or so, the passion that is shown both on and off the field in a cricketing sense is often spine-tingling, and whenever the two meet in a top cricket tournament, fireworks always follow.

Australia vs New Zealand

While Australia have historically been seen as THE cricketing team, New Zealand have been slowly building a side that can not only match the Aussies, but better them in certain aspects. Right now, the mercurial Kane Williamson is leading the team, making them a real force to be reckoned with for all three formats of the sport. Australia, meanwhile, are rebuilding, and look to be edging back towards the summit. With the sheer amount of world-class talent that is always on show when the two sides meet, Australia vs New Zealand is not a clash you will want to miss.

ICC Cricket World Cup

The number one event in ODI cricket, the ICC World Cup brings together the best of the best in a battle royale that sees one side crowned the champion of the world. Australia have historically dominated the competition, but the gap between themselves, India, England and New Zealand is one that has shrunk in recent years. This, coupled with the competitive nature of a round-robin competition that leads into a knock-out stage, results in some truly incredible matches. England are the current world champions following their 2019 victory over New Zealand, but they face stern competition if they are to defend their crown in India in 2023.

T20 World Cup

Just like the 50-over iteration of the competition, the T20 World Cup is the most explosive international 20-over tournament. The fact that a side only has 120 balls to build a score means batsmen look to tee off from the first ball, and while this often ends in the white ball flying out of the stadium, it does also give bowlers a lot of opportunities to take wickets. This quickfire battle between bat and ball is usually the most entertaining format of the game.

The Indian Premier League (IPL)

While the T20 World Cup is the biggest Twenty20 competition in international cricket, the Indian Premier League is undoubtedly the most popular club tournament. Starting with the exceptionally popular IPL auction, the best players are bought and traded across the sides. This then leads into a group stage, where each sides plays the others twice before playoffs precede a final. The entirety of India seems to drop when they are doing to watch the league, such is the level of passionate support they display, while the rest of the cricketing world also tune in to watch the very best T20 players take each other on.

Big Bash

Australia’s answer to the IPL comes in the form of the Big Bash. Usually played out across the latter stages of the year into the new year, the Big Bash sees big shots, cartwheeling wickets and ridiculous catches as the norm, with every game keeping viewers on the edge of their seats.

T20 Blast

England’s own T20 competition, the T20 Blast is a mix of big hitting and disappointing rain delays. While it does not have the global appeal of IPL betting, there are still many opportunities worth your while as a punter.

There are a number of other competitions out there, including other series and club tournaments, but any of the above are guaranteed to allow you to bet on top bowler cricket betting market with the best cricket betting sites.

Best Alternative Cricket Betting Markets

It is far too much to ask for a single market to keep your attention completely when you come to betting on cricket. With this in mind, we have handpicked the best alternative betting markets to Top Bowler betting that utilise similar knowledge and factors.

Top Batsman Betting

Top Batsman betting is the direct antithesis to Top Bowler betting, as you will be wagering on who will score the most runs. As with the Top Bowler market, you should do your research into the conditions, the venue, the players you can back and their schedules before you bet. This is the best way of finding value.

Man of the Match Betting

*Odds correct at 12:17 BST on 30/3/2021

Man of the Match betting requires you to wager on the player you believe will be named the Man of the Match in a particular contest. Unlike the Top Bowler or Top Batsman markets, this one can be changed by a bowler, batsman, fielding performance, or an amalgamation of the three.

However, we'd like to include a word of warning for this market. Unlike top bowler, which is decided solely on stats, the Man of the Match award is usually given by a commentator or a fan vote. This means that the market result itself is very subjective. For example, you may perceive a player that score 150 to be the Man of the Match, but the commentator selects a bowler who took six wickets including a hat-trick as more deserving.

Some bookies utilise stats-based sites to work out their own Man of the Match, but this is unfortunately more common with football than with cricket.

Best betting site for Man of the Match betting: Unibet

Most Sixes/Fours Betting

*Odds correct at 12:29 BST on 30/3/2021

Most fours/sixes markets can be found available for any of the three formats; however, it is most popular in the ODI and T20 games.

A four is scored when a batsman hits the ball to the boundary rope and it bounces one or more times. A six, meanwhile, is when a batsman clears the rope without it bouncing at all.

Betting on fours and sixes will simply ask you to wager on which side will score the most. The reason this market is best used with the shorter formats is because the batsmen in ODI and T20 cricket is constantly trying to score maximum runs, whereas Test match batsmen are looking to preserve their wicket and build a big score, which does not always see boundaries achieved.

Here, you should do your research into the percentage of runs scored by teams and players via boundaries, as this will give you a greater insight into which the team you should back.

Best betting site for Most Four/Sixes betting: Sportsbet.io

Key Top Bowler Betting Stats

• Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan is the highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, with 800 wickets. He is also the top ODI wicket-taker, with 534 wickets.
• Also from Sri Lanka’s team, Lasith Malinga has take 107 T20 wickets, making him the leading wicket-taker in the shortest format of the game.
• Jim Laker has the best bowling figures ever in a Test match, taking 10/53 for England against Australia back in 1956.

Top Bowler Betting FAQs

Which are the best betting sites for top bowler betting?

Any of the betting sites we have mentioned above will give you a great experience when it comes to Top Bowler betting. However, of the above, we would recommend 10CRIC, Unibet and Sportsbet.io the most. These three bookies not only provide competitive odds for the Top Bowler market, along with most of their other sports, but they also offer a number of payment methods, excellent features, great customer support, and one of the best cricket betting apps in India.

What is the difference between Top Bowler betting & Top Wicket-Taker betting?

There is no difference between these two markets. In both cases, you’re wagering on which player will take most wickets.

What other betting markets are there to the Top Bowler market?

We would suggest markets such as Top Batsman, Man of the Match and Most Fours/Sixes betting, which all provide a great chance to make a nice profit if you do your research well beforehand.

Which players should I back in the top bowler market?

This comes down to what research you have done. Information regarding the teams, the venue, the pitch report, where the game lies in the player’s calendar and the format will all have an impact on which way you should bet. Perhaps most important is the location of the match itself, as the conditions underfoot and overhead will change which bowlers are likely to excel. You could also check out our page on the best cricket predictions in the world for some expert insight and guidance.

Which competitions are best for Top Bowler betting?

Most of the biggest and best competitions in the world will see bookmakers offer the Top Bowler market, from the Cricket World Cup and the Ashes to the IPL or the Big Bash.

Can I watch and bet on cricket at the same time?

Yes, you can watch and bet on cricket simultaneously. Most betting sites will have an in-play section where live cricket betting will be offered, and some even have a live streaming function to go along with this.

Check to see if your bookie of choice appears on our list of the best live cricket streaming sites. If it does, then you can head to their site, log in and look to see which sports and matches are available to watch.

If they host any cricket live streams, then you will usually only have to have a positive balance in your account, have placed a bet in the last 24 hours or have made a bet on the match you want to watch. It is worth noting that live streams are usually subject to a delay of a few seconds – this is to keep things fair for everyone involved.

CricketBettingAdvice Final Say

Top Bowler has become a very popular market for cricket betting, which is why we've done our utmost to bring you the best and most insighful betting tips that you'll ever need in this guide.

Don't forget to do your research into top bowler stats as well as other factors, including the pitch, the overhead conditions, the venue, their opponent and their schedule too.

Finally, if you're still relatively new to all of this, head over to our detailed guide on how to bet on cricket for even more advice.

As always, bet responsibly, and have fun!

Vishnu Reddy

Match previews expert

Vishnu Reddy is a seasoned sports betting writer with two years of expertise in the field. His in-depth knowledge and proficiency extend beyond the general spectrum, with a particular focus on cricket betting, a passion he has cultivated for the past five years.

Vishnu has worked as a sports content writer for two years across Cloutnews, Sportslumo, Sportz18.com, GudStory.com, Sportsgyan.in, Fantasytips.in, and Sportscafe. Also, he has co-founded two Bollywood and cricket websites: SpiceBite.in and Cricketerstales.com.