Cricket Spread Betting
Cricket is probably the most suitable sport for spread betting due to it being so reliant on numbers. To many, test match cricket can be tedious and isn't exactly helped by a fixed-odds bet on the outright result, or a country's top batsman. However, if y
12-Feb-2009
Cricket is probably the most suitable sport for spread betting due to it being so reliant on numbers. To many, test match cricket can be tedious and isn't exactly helped by a fixed-odds bet on the outright result, or a country's top batsman. However, if you're involved with a spread bet, then you are likely to be on the edge of your seat for the entire five days.
Here are just some of the attractive bets Sporting Index offer…
Batsman runs
Every time a batsman walks to the crease, the Sporting Index traders will offer a prediction on the total number of runs he will score in his innings. Punters have to ask themselves the question, will he go for a duck, or will he get a double century? True, it will usually be neither of these, but you only have to look at Englands recent tour of India to see how batsman's performances can vary. Captain Kevin Pietersen had his wicket talen for 1 to the delight of sellers, whilst supposed 'weak link' Paul Collingwood went on to make 199 runs.
Every time a batsman walks to the crease, the Sporting Index traders will offer a prediction on the total number of runs he will score in his innings. Punters have to ask themselves the question, will he go for a duck, or will he get a double century? True, it will usually be neither of these, but you only have to look at Englands recent tour of India to see how batsman's performances can vary. Captain Kevin Pietersen had his wicket talen for 1 to the delight of sellers, whilst supposed 'weak link' Paul Collingwood went on to make 199 runs.
Team runs
Similarly to individual batsman runs, as soon as a team goes out to bat, they are given a spread of innings runs. This will usually change markedly during the innings as boundaries are hit and wickets fall. Looking back to the Lord's test between England and South Africa, England lost three early wickets for 117, they were available to sell at around 260. However, with Pieterson and Bell going on to make a stand of 286, buyers would have seen a huge profit by the time the innings closed at 593 for 8.
Similarly to individual batsman runs, as soon as a team goes out to bat, they are given a spread of innings runs. This will usually change markedly during the innings as boundaries are hit and wickets fall. Looking back to the Lord's test between England and South Africa, England lost three early wickets for 117, they were available to sell at around 260. However, with Pieterson and Bell going on to make a stand of 286, buyers would have seen a huge profit by the time the innings closed at 593 for 8.
Lock-in a profit or take a reduced loss
The beauty of cricket and spread betting means that punters don't have to sit through hours of agony. Say that you've bought Andrew Strauss's first innings runs at 44 and he starts off with a few quick boundaries and races to 22 not out. The spread will now have moved to around 62-66 so you have the option to close out at 62, locking in an 18-point profit. As soon as you have closed the bet, whatever goes on to happen will make no difference to your return. Similarly, the opposite can apply with team runs and if a few quick wickets fall, then you can choose to close out and limit potential losses. The key skill in spread betting is recognising exactly when to close out.
The beauty of cricket and spread betting means that punters don't have to sit through hours of agony. Say that you've bought Andrew Strauss's first innings runs at 44 and he starts off with a few quick boundaries and races to 22 not out. The spread will now have moved to around 62-66 so you have the option to close out at 62, locking in an 18-point profit. As soon as you have closed the bet, whatever goes on to happen will make no difference to your return. Similarly, the opposite can apply with team runs and if a few quick wickets fall, then you can choose to close out and limit potential losses. The key skill in spread betting is recognising exactly when to close out.
Sporting Index took one hell of a beating
There are occasions where the trader does get it wrong.
In the 2007 ICC World Cup, many people had Ireland down for an early exit and the cricket traders at Sporting Index were no different. On the total runs market, they were predicted to knock 620 - 640 runs before been sent home by the more experienced Pakistan and West Indies. However having scrambled a draw with Zimbabwe in their opening game, they caused the shock of the tournament by beating Pakistan by 3 wickets. This meant that the Irish were on their way through to the Super 8 and another six games which meant buyers of the total runs market were laughing all the way to the bank as they smashed a total of 1452 runs before been sent home.