A Full Guide to Top Wicket-Taker Betting (2023)

With the huge rise in popularity of cricket and cricket betting, a glut of cricket betting markets have been created to meet this steadily increasing demand. Alongside markets for Top Batsman and Man of the Match, Top Wicket-Taker betting has also proved to be very popular. In this Top Wicket-Taker betting guide, we will go over how to best use the market, the best cricket betting sites where it is available, as well as useful strategies to keep in mind.

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How to Bet on the Top Wicket-Taker

Top Wicket-Taker betting will see bettors trying to back the player they think will finish the match with the most wickets. Cricket is a game that sees the bat and the ball locked in an eternal battle, with batsmen looking to swell their teams score, while bowlers want to restrict their opponents and take wickets as quickly and as economically as possible. When betting on this market, there are a number of rules you need to be aware of:

  • You are betting on the player to take the most wickets in the match.
  • Usually, you will bet on the bowler taking the most wickets in the first innings if it is a Test match.
  • If there is a reduction in the number of overs, then bets will be made void unless the result has already been determined. This is the case in limited over matches.
  • If your bowler does not bowl a delivery in the match, then your bet will still lose if another bowler takes more wickets.

Top Wicket-Taker betting does not necessarily mean that you should back the biggest name in order for your bet to be successful. Below, we have compiled a number of the most important factors to take into account when betting on the top wicket-taker.

Top Wicket-Taker Betting Tips

As with any other cricket betting market, we first recommend you head over to our in-depth guide on how to bet on cricket, especially if you still consider yourself a beginner. Below, we've gathered a few useful tips worth noting if you'd like bet on the top wicket-taker:

  • Big names don’t always mean wickets. Some of the biggest names in cricket are those of bowlers that have struck fear into the hearts of the batsmen they are facing. At the moment, the likes of James Anderson, Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult all feature prominently in any type of wicket-taker betting, but this does not always mean they are the player to back. Indeed, James Anderson is one of the best exponents on swing bowling in living memory, meaning that backing him in England would be a savvy wager. However, when touring a different country, he may not get as much help in Australia or India as he would in England. This means that being intelligent and picking your choice wisely can translate into a better chance of getting wickets. However, it is worth bearing in the mind the fact that Anderson is not usually fancied to take wickets outside of England, but he has continually done so throughout his career, although this has been more sporadic than when he plays in England.
  • Inspect the pitch. Pitch conditions in cricket are amongst the most important pieces of information in the game. If you do your research prior to the start of a match, then you will likely give yourself a massive advantage over those that choose to ignore the pitch reports. For example, if the pitch in Australia is hard and flat, with the overhead conditions likely to be blisteringly hot for the next five days, then fast and aggressive bowling over the course of the first few days will be lethal, while the pitch will then likely break up and crack, meaning that spin bowling will then play its part. Similarly, if the pitch in England is grassy with the conditions overhead looking overcast, then swing bowlers will likely get a lot of assistance in getting the ball to move.
  • Value bets. Backing the big player or team in cricket is not always the right way to go if you are looking for value. For example, backing Australia to beat the Netherlands will likely offer very little value, meaning that, despite the chances of your bet coming in being high, you will have to wager a lot of money to get anything back. Indeed, backing the Dutch to win would offer a good payout, but the chances of the side beating Australia are slim to none. Instead, you are better off doing your research and looking into making bets that have some chance of losing, but will give you a good payout if they come off. Indeed, Trent Boult may be the favourite to take the most wickets for New Zealand in the match, which means he offers little value. Instead, you could look to back Lockie Ferguson to end with the most wickets, as he offers more value. While this means your bet has a slightly higher chance of losing according to the bookie, you will not have to wager as much to get more back.
  • Know your formats. With top wicket-taker odds available for all of Test, ODI and T20 cricket, it is very important to know what the different formats of the game will likely bring. For example, T20 cricket, which is the shortest format of the game, will likely see a lot of betting done via the Most Sixes market, as batsmen will usually look to go big from the start. In Test cricket meanwhile, different batsmen, bowler and partnership betting options will be more popular. Alongside this, the different formats of the game will see different tactics used, while the pitch will deteriorate and change far more in a Test match than it will in a T20 game. This means that, if a pitch is particularly good for fast bowling in a T20 match, then it will not change all that as the game progresses; unlike during a five-day Test, during which it will change a lot.
  • Check the venue. It is very important to know where the match is being played as this will have an impact on which bowlers, as well as which type of bowlers, will excel. For example, a venue in India will see spin bowlers excel. Ensure that you know where a match is taking place before making your bet.
  • There is no such thing as a definite win. Earlier, we recommended finding value in your bets. While this does mean your wager has a higher chance of losing if it comes with longer odds, you should always be aware of the fact that an odds-on choice or a favourite does not equal a definite win. Cricket and sport in general is so incredibly unpredictable, which, after all, adds to the excitement of betting – even the massive odds-on favourite can lose. This is why it is important not to make a mammoth bet on an odds-on runner. This big bet would be to ensure you get something back if you win; that being said, you should always be aware of the fact that the potential risk should not outweigh the potential reward.

Best Tournaments for Top Wicket-Taker Betting

Top wicket-taker odds are often enhanced greatly when you are betting on a major tournament or event, as there are so many world-class players to bet on. Below, we have listed a few of the biggest tournaments in the world, where top wicket-taker odds will likely offer good value.

The Ashes

The biggest Test match series in cricket, The Ashes is contested by England and Australia, with some of the greatest matches in cricket having taken place between these two nations. While Australia tend to dominate the series when England tour them, the battle is far tighter in England, with winners of the series on English soil very difficult to call. These matches will often see big runs scored by players, but there have also been very low team scores too. When a team score is particularly low, it means that wickets will have tumbled quickly, and this is usually when one or two bowlers are on a real hot streak.

The Cricket World Cup

As the biggest event in 50-over cricket, the ODI Cricket World Cup will see all of the best teams in the world converge on one country in a cricket tournament that is unlike any other. While the tournament has so often been dominated by Australia, with the Aussies heavily impressing when it comes to ODI cricket, it is a competition where any side could lift the trophy. For top wicket-taker odds and betting, the Cricket World Cup is a great time to place your bets,

IPL

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is the biggest T20 tournament in the world. Played during the earlier portion of the year, the IPL begins with an auction for the best T20 players before the real fun begins. All of the sides resemble cricketing dream teams, with the best batsmen and bowlers shared out before a round-robin competition starts, including semi-finals and then a final. The IPL very quickly established itself as the most popular T20 competition, and is arguably one of the biggest cricketing events ever. With the fans cramming into stadiums to watch their favourite players, the IPL is one of the most watched sporting tournaments in the world.

Best Alternative Cricket Betting Markets

While top wicket-taker betting sites and top wicket-taker betting odds are very popular with cricket bettors, there are a number of alternative cricket betting markets that can help to keep things fresh. Below, we have listed the most popular markets and how best to use them.

Top Batsman Betting

Top Batsman betting is exactly the same as top wicket-taker betting, only it is centred on the batsman scoring the runs. Here, you are required to back the player you think will end with the most runs in the match from a certain team.

This means that your choice of batsman must outscore his teammates in order for your bet to win. This market generally provides pretty good odds, as there are technically 11 players who can top score. Of course, backing a dedicated bowler will provide excellent potential value, but the chances of your wager coming in are low. Backing one of a team’s top players to top score will generally offer good value too, but if you are looking to really enhance your potential payout, you will want to look towards the middle-order.

Man of the Match Betting

Even more unpredictable than top wicket-taker betting, Man of the Match betting can be somewhat tricky, yet very exciting.

Man of the Match betting is based upon the player that will have the biggest and most profound effect on a game. This could be a batsman scoring a century, a bowler taking a five-wicket-haul or a player excelling with both bat and ball.

The confusion here comes in the awarding of the title. Unlike the top wicket-taker market, which simply focuses on the bowler with the most wickets, the Man of the Match award is usually awarded by a commentator or, in some circumstances, by the public. This means that the award is very subjective. For example, you may value the 150 not outscored by a batsman in a game, reassuring you that your bet will come in after his knock. However, the commentator has instead decided to award the Man of the Match to the bowler that took seven wickets in the first innings and dismissed the opposition’s best player as part of his five-wicket-haul in the second innings. The manner in which the Man of the Match is awarded means that sometimes you could lose out, despite being sure you are going to win.

Best betting site for Man of the Match betting: 888sport

Most Sixes Betting

Most sixes betting is something that is generally more popular in the shorter formats of the game. Just like top wicket-taker betting odds, the Most Sixes market offers some real value, and this is often its allure. Here, you will be looking to wager upon whether you think there will be a certain number of sixes scored in the match.

The reason why this market is most popular in the shorter formats of the game is because batsmen are looking to swell their scores quickly, with a six (where the ball is hit over the boundary rope without it bouncing) the biggest possible scoring shot. However, while this does seem like an entirely batsman-oriented market, it is also one that sees the bowlers looking to restrict the amount of sixes scored. This means that, if you enjoy researching bowlers and wagering on them, this market should be perfect for you.

Top Wicket-Taker Betting FAQs

Which are the best betting sites for top wicket-taker betting?

Any of the 10 betting sites listed above will provide you with a very good way to bet on top wicket-taker betting markets. However, we would recommend 888sport and Unibet as being very best. These three bookies offer highly competitive top wicket-taker odds, a wide variety of alternative markets, good payment options and some great features.

Which players should I back in the top wicket-taker market?

This is down to the format, match and venue. If the format is a Test match, then looking at how the pitch will deteriorate over the five days will be key, meaning different bowlers will have more of an impact as the days go by. If certain bowlers have struggled against their next opposition then you should take that into account, while the venue will see conditions change, meaning that a fast bowler may be more potent than a spinner and vice versa.

Can I live stream cricket matches?

Yes, you can live stream certain cricket matches. If you are keen on watching cricket via your chosen bookmaker, we recommend checking out our list of the best live cricket streaming sites to ensure you've signed up with a site that offers this service. Live streaming cricket matches can come highly in useful for the biggest competitions, including IPL betting. Don't forget to take a look at the best cricket prediction in the world on our site before you go!

CricketBettingAdvice Final Say

Top wicket-taker betting and top wicket-taker odds provide bettors with the ability to get a lot of value from their bets. Of course, some caution is required as betting on bowlers, much like betting on batsmen, can be tricky to do. A game could be perfectly set up for the front-line spinner to excel, only for a part-time spinner to take the most wickets. When betting on this market, doing so with the top cricket tournaments can provide the best top wicket-taker odds. These tournaments can quite often be paired well with dream11, while looking out for the cricket betting app can make your cricket betting experience even better.

Further Reading

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  2. 33 Best Cricket Betting Apps in India (2023 Update) In this guide, we’ve listed the most enjoyable and user-friendly...
  3. Top 49 Cricket Betting Sites in India (2023 Update) Planning to bet on your team this cricket-heavy season? Before...

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