What is Fall Of Next Wicket? Fall Of Next Wicket Explained in 2 minutes
Mike Goodpaster Last Verified
28/08/2026
The fall of next wicket bet asks you to predict something specific about the very next wicket in a cricket match - either the method of dismissal (caught, bowled, LBW, run out, or stumped) or the total score at which that wicket falls.
It is one of the most active in-play cricket markets, available ball by ball throughout a match. This page walks you through exactly how it works, gives you a real T20 example with numbers, and covers strategies, common mistakes, and everything else you need before placing your first bet.
What does Fall of Next Wicket mean?
When a batter is dismissed in cricket, that moment is called the "fall of a wicket." A fall of next wicket bet is settled on the very next dismissal to happen in the match - you are not betting on the whole innings or the final result, just the single event of one more batter getting out. The bet is typically split into two sub-markets: the method of dismissal (how the wicket falls) and the score at which it falls (sometimes called "next wicket score" or a runs range).
You will most often encounter this market during live in-play betting on Test cricket, ODIs, and T20 matches, including the IPL and international Twenty20 tournaments. Because it resolves within minutes, it attracts bettors who want fast, contained action rather than a bet that hangs on the whole match. Odds shift quickly as each delivery is bowled.
Real-life example
Imagine you are watching an IPL T20 match - Mumbai Indians versus Chennai Super Kings. Mumbai are batting, the score is 87 for 2 after 10 overs, and there are eight wickets still standing. You open the fall of next wicket market on a sportsbook and see the following dismissal method odds listed in American format:
- Caught: -130 (shortest price - most likely outcome)
- Bowled: +280
- LBW (leg before wicket - where the ball strikes the batter's pad in line with the stumps, and they are given out without the ball touching the bat): +380
- Run Out: +600
- Stumped: +900
You notice the CSK spinner is getting significant turn and the Mumbai batter at the crease is known to sweep aggressively. You think a caught dismissal in the deep - from a mis-hit sweep - is the most likely outcome, so you place a $20 stake on Caught at -130. To calculate the payout on negative American odds, divide 100 by the odds number and multiply by your stake: (100 ÷ 130) × $20 = $15.38 profit. Your total return if the bet wins is $35.38 ($20 stake back plus $15.38 profit).
Two overs later the batter top-edges a sweep to long leg and is caught. Your bet settles as a winner immediately. Had the batter been bowled through the gate instead, your stake of $20 would have been lost in full.
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Fall of Next Wicket betting strategies and tips
Because this market settles on a single delivery or a short passage of play, your edge comes from reading match conditions quickly and accurately. The tips below focus on the specific factors that actually move fall of next wicket odds in T20 and Test cricket.
🧠 Understand why caught dominates the market
Caught dismissals account for roughly half of all wickets across all formats of cricket, which is why sportsbooks price them shortest. Before defaulting to caught, check whether the bowling attack relies on pace or spin - pace bowlers tend to produce more edges to the slip cordon, while spinners generate more top-edge catches in the deep or stumped dismissals. Knowing that split helps you decide whether the caught price is actually value or already baked in too tight.
📊 Factor in the current batter's dismissal history
Most cricket data sites publish how individual batters get out most often. If the batter at the crease has a strong tendency to be LBW to left-arm spin, and a left-arm spinner is bowling, the LBW price of +380 or higher may represent genuine value. A few minutes of research before placing - comparing the batter's dismissal split against the bowling type in use - can highlight odds that the market has not fully priced.
⏱️ Time your bet to the bowling match-up
Odds on fall of next wicket update ball by ball, and a new bowling spell can swing prices noticeably. If a fast bowler who swings the ball old-style is about to come on at the death in a T20, bowled and LBW prices often shorten while caught at long-off or long-on drifts out. Waiting until you can see who is bowling the next over - rather than betting mid-over - gives you more information for no extra risk.
🔍 Use live streaming alongside the market
Watching the game as you bet lets you read pitch conditions, batter footwork, and fielding placement in real time - details that raw odds cannot communicate. Many live streaming sportsbooks carry IPL and international T20 matches, which means you can watch and bet from the same app. That combination is a meaningful advantage over betting blind on scorecard data alone.
💰 Keep stakes small given the speed of settlement
Because fall of next wicket bets can settle within a single over, the temptation is to re-stake quickly after each result and chase losses. Setting a fixed stake per bet - regardless of whether the last bet won or lost - keeps your session bankroll under control. If you are using free bets or bonus funds to explore the market for the first time, that is a low-risk way to get a feel for how quickly odds shift before committing real money.
📋 Compare dismissal odds across sportsbooks
The margin a sportsbook charges varies by market, and niche in-play cricket markets sometimes carry a higher edge than standard match winner bets. Checking the price for your chosen dismissal method across two or three cricket betting sites before placing takes only seconds and can mean a meaningfully higher payout if your bet wins.
When does the Fall of Next Wicket bet win?
The bet wins when the very next batter to be dismissed leaves the field via the method you selected, or - in the score-based version - when the wicket falls within the runs range you chose. Both conditions are straightforward: the dismissal method must match exactly, and the bet is settled the moment the umpire signals out. If you bet "bowled" and the batter edges to slip and is caught, the bet loses even if the ball pitched in line with the stumps.
Edge cases are worth knowing before you bet. If the innings ends before another wicket falls - rare but possible at the end of a T20 chase - most sportsbooks will void the bet and return your stake. Similarly, if a batter retires hurt rather than being dismissed, that does not count as a wicket, so the market stays open. Always check the sportsbook's specific rules for voided scenarios, particularly in matches that are interrupted by weather during a close in-play session.
Mistakes to avoid when betting Fall of Next Wicket
Most losing sessions on this market come down to a handful of repeatable errors rather than bad luck. The mistakes below are the ones beginners make most often - recognising them early saves money.
⚠️ Assuming caught is always the best bet
Caught being the most common dismissal type does not automatically make it value at any price. When the sportsbook prices caught at -200 or shorter, you are risking $200 to win $100, and the bookmaker has built a significant edge into that number. Rare dismissal types at long odds only need to land occasionally to be more profitable than repeatedly backing a short-priced favourite.
🚫 Ignoring the match situation before betting
A lower-order batter coming in with two wickets to fall in a T20 chase behaves completely differently from an opening batter in the first over of a Test innings. The match situation - overs remaining, runs required, quality of the batter - all affect which dismissal type is most likely. Treating every fall of next wicket bet identically regardless of context is one of the most common beginner errors.
💸 Chasing after a rapid string of losses
Because bets settle fast, a losing run can empty a session bankroll in twenty minutes if you keep doubling up to recover. Each fall of next wicket market is independent - the last wicket being caught does not make the next one less likely to be caught. Stick to your pre-set stake and treat each bet as a standalone decision.
🎲 Betting the runs range without understanding the field setting
The score-at-next-wicket sub-market is harder to price than the dismissal method because it depends on how many runs the current partnership adds before a wicket falls. Batters who have just settled in at the crease tend to accelerate, pushing the wicket further out. If you have not watched enough of the innings to assess the current partnership's momentum, the runs-range market is particularly difficult to judge.
📉 Missing the impact of DRS and review decisions on settlement
When an umpire gives not-out and the fielding team successfully reviews using the Decision Review System, the dismissal method that stands is the one confirmed after the review - not the original on-field call. Stumped decisions reviewed as caught behind, or LBWs overturned to not-out, can void or change the settlement of your bet in ways that feel surprising if you do not know DRS affects the outcome.
Is Fall of Next Wicket betting available at top US sportsbooks?
This is a niche in-play market, and its availability at US sportsbooks depends heavily on how much cricket coverage the operator provides. Cricket is not a mainstream US sport, so not every licensed US sportsbook offers fall of next wicket - but the leading operators that do invest in cricket do include it. Among the major US sportsbooks, DraftKings, FanDuel, bet365, and BetMGM tend to carry the deepest cricket in-play markets, including fall of next wicket for IPL, international T20s, and Test matches.
Caesars and Fanatics also offer cricket betting, though their in-play cricket coverage can be narrower than the dedicated cricket-friendly operators. If you are specifically looking to bet fall of next wicket markets regularly, it is worth checking which sportsbooks in your state have the most comprehensive live cricket section before depositing. Availability also varies by state licensing, so the range of operators you can access depends on where you are located in the US.
Is Fall of Next Wicket available for live betting?
Yes - fall of next wicket is almost entirely an in-play market. It rarely exists as a pre-match bet because there is no meaningful way to predict a single specific wicket before a ball has been bowled. The market opens once play begins, refreshes after each dismissal, and closes briefly around each ball being bowled while the book prices up the new batting partnership and conditions.
The best experience comes from using betting apps that combine in-play markets with live score updates so you can see the current over, bowling figures, and ball-by-ball commentary alongside the odds. Odds move sharply in this market - a batter hit on the pad in the previous ball can see the LBW price shorten significantly before the next delivery - so mobile access to the market in real time matters more here than in most other cricket bet types.
Fall of Next Wicket pros and cons
Like any specialised betting market, fall of next wicket has genuine advantages for the right type of bettor and clear drawbacks for those who prefer low-volatility, slower-resolving bets. Here is a balanced look at both sides before you decide if it suits your approach.
- Settles quickly - usually within one or two overs
- Specific knowledge of batters genuinely rewarded
- Multiple dismissal types offer varied odds at all price levels
- Works across T20, ODI, and Test formats
- High bookmaker margin on shorter-priced options
- Fast settlement encourages impulsive re-staking
- Limited availability at some US sportsbooks
- DRS and rain interruptions can complicate settlement
Related terms and similar bets
Fall of next wicket sits inside a broader family of cricket dismissal markets. Understanding the closest relatives helps you choose which market fits the moment - some cover a single ball, others cover a whole innings or the first wicket specifically.
🎯 Next Wicket Method
Next wicket method is often used interchangeably with fall of next wicket dismissal, but some sportsbooks label it as its own standalone market focused purely on how the wicket falls rather than when. The options are the same - caught, bowled, LBW, run out, stumped - and it settles on the very next dismissal. Learn more about next wicket method betting.
🔄 First Wicket Method
First wicket method is the pre-match or early-innings version of the same idea - you predict how the first wicket of the innings will fall before any batter has been dismissed. Because it is settled on one specific event at the very start of an innings, it is available before play begins unlike fall of next wicket. Read about the first wicket method market in detail.
📚 Method of Dismissal - Cricket
Method of dismissal is the broader parent concept covering any bet on how a particular batter or any batter in an innings gets out. Unlike fall of next wicket, method of dismissal bets can be placed on a named batter rather than simply the next one in line. The full guide to method of dismissal cricket betting explains all the variants.
💡 Caught - Cricket Dismissal
Caught is the single dismissal type you will bet most often on this market given its historical frequency. It covers any catch completed by the wicketkeeper or any fielder after the ball comes off the bat without bouncing. Understanding what counts as a legal catch - including the fielder not stepping over the boundary rope - is essential before backing this option. See the caught cricket dismissal explained.
🔗 Run Out - Cricket
Run out is the least predictable dismissal type in the market and consistently carries the longest odds, often +500 or more in T20 cricket. It occurs when a fielder breaks the stumps with the ball while a batter is outside the crease attempting a run. Because it depends on fielding aggression and batter decision-making rather than a bowler's skill, it is the hardest outcome to predict from match conditions alone. More detail is available on the run out cricket market page.
Final thoughts
Fall of next wicket is one of the most engaging in-play cricket markets available precisely because it rewards specific knowledge - knowing how a batter tends to get out, which bowler is in form, and what the pitch is doing puts you in a better position than a bettor relying on instinct alone. Before your first bet, compare the dismissal odds across the cricket betting sites available in your state to make sure you are getting the best available price for your selection.
Keep your stakes measured and treat each new dismissal market as a fresh decision rather than a chance to recover a previous loss. Promo codes and new-customer offers - such as those listed on the promo codes page - can give you a low-risk entry point if you want to explore this market before committing significant funds.
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
+9
- 20+ sports available for wagering
- Pre-match and in-play betting
- Unique features like live streaming and boosted odds
Bet $10 Get $365 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose
Find out more on bet365's website
- Over 20 sports
- Extensive betting markets
- Live betting feature
New Users – Get $350 in Bonus Bets when you wager $5 for 7 days
+6
- Deep market coverage across major U.S. sports and leagues
- Same Game Parlay builder is fast and easy to use
- Live betting interface updates quickly with real-time odds
FAQs
Common questions from beginners about Fall of Next Wicket.
What happens to my fall of next wicket bet if it rains and the match is abandoned?
If the match is abandoned before the next wicket falls, most sportsbooks will void the bet and return your stake in full. The exact rule can vary between operators, so it is worth checking the cricket in-play rules section of your sportsbook before placing during a match where rain is forecast.
Does a batter retiring hurt count as a wicket for this market?
No - a retirement hurt is not a dismissal and does not settle fall of next wicket bets. The market remains open and will only settle when the next batter is actually dismissed by the fielding team. Only official modes of dismissal - caught, bowled, LBW, run out, stumped, hit wicket, handled the ball, or obstructing the field - count as a wicket.
Can I cash out a fall of next wicket bet before the wicket falls?
Some sportsbooks offer a cash out option on in-play cricket markets including fall of next wicket, but it is not universally available on this specific market. If cash out is offered, the amount you receive will reflect the current odds on your selection - if the market has moved against you since you placed the bet, the cash out value will be lower than your original stake.
