Alright — let’s break down “Total Wickets” in cricket sports betting so it’s crystal clear and practical for real match scenarios.
1. What “Total Wickets” Means
In cricket sports betting, Total Wickets refers to betting on the number of wickets that will fall during a specified part of a match.
It can apply to:
- Entire Match (all innings combined in Test/ODI/T20)
- Single Innings (e.g., 1st innings of a T20 or ODI)
- Specific Period (e.g., first 10 overs)
- A Team’s Innings only
It’s very similar to Over/Under betting in football goals markets — but here, you’re counting dismissals instead of goals.
2. How It’s Settled
- A wicket is counted when a batter is out — bowled, caught, LBW, run-out, stumped, or hit-wicket.
- Not Out or retired hurt do NOT count as wickets.
- The total is based on completed dismissals, not balls or overs.
3. Types of Total Wickets Markets
A. Over/Under Total Wickets
You bet if the wickets will be more or less than a set number.
Example:
Market: Total Wickets in 1st Innings Over/Under 7.5
- Over 7.5 wins if 8 or more wickets fall.
- Under 7.5 wins if 7 or fewer wickets fall.
B. Exact Total Wickets
Predict the exact number of wickets that will fall.
Example:
Market: Exact Total Wickets in 1st Innings
Odds:
- Exactly 10 wickets – 2.20
- Exactly 8 wickets – 5.00
- Exactly 6 wickets – 8.50
You win only if you hit the exact number.
C. Team Total Wickets
Betting on how many wickets one team will lose in an innings or match.
Example:
Market: Team A Total Wickets Over/Under 5.5 in 2nd Innings
- Over 5.5 wins if Team A loses 6+ wickets.
- Under 5.5 wins if they lose 5 or fewer.
D. Partnership Wickets
Betting on whether a wicket will fall in a particular over or by a certain score.
Example:
- “Will a wicket fall before 30 runs are scored?” – Yes/No.
- “Will there be a wicket in the 1st over?” – Yes/No.
4. Concrete Examples
Example 1 – T20 Match (India vs Australia)
Market: Total Wickets in Match – Over/Under 12.5
- India loses 7 wickets, Australia loses 6 wickets.
- Total wickets = 7 + 6 = 13 → Over 12.5 wins.
Example 2 – ODI Match (England vs Pakistan)
Market: Team Pakistan Total Wickets – Under 7.5
- Pakistan bats second, loses 6 wickets chasing the target.
- Total wickets lost = 6 → Under 7.5 wins.
Example 3 – Test Match Day 1
Market: Total Wickets on Day 1 – Over 8.5
- First session: 4 wickets, Second: 2, Third: 3.
- Total = 9 wickets → Over 8.5 wins.
5. Betting Tips
A. Check Pitch & Weather Conditions
- Green tops or cloudy conditions often lead to more wickets.
- Flat, dry pitches with sun → fewer wickets.
B. Match Format Matters
- T20: Aggressive batting = higher chance of wickets, but fewer overs limit total dismissals.
- ODI: Moderate wicket rate, often between 8–12 per match.
- Test: More overs = higher total wickets.
C. Team & Player Style
- Teams with strong bowlers and weak batting lineups = more wickets.
- Defensive batting sides can reduce wicket counts.
D. Timing of Bet
- In-play betting can give you an edge — watch how the pitch plays in the first few overs.
E. Historical Data
- Check past matches at the same venue between the same teams.
If you want, I can make you a clear chart showing the common ranges of total wickets for T20, ODI, and Test cricket so you can quickly spot value bets.
It would make it much easier to judge if “Over” or “Under” is more likely for a given match.