What is Series in Cricket? Series Cricket Betting Explained in 2 Minutes
Mike Goodpaster Last Verified
30/09/2026
A series in cricket betting refers to a scheduled group of matches between two national teams, such as a Test series, an ODI (One Day International) series, or a T20 series. When you bet on a series, you are wagering on outcomes that span several matches rather than a single game.
This page walks you through exactly how series betting works, with a real-money example, practical strategies, common mistakes, and everything else a beginner needs before placing their first wager.
What does Series mean in cricket betting?
A cricket series is a collection of two or more matches played consecutively between the same two teams, usually in the same country over several weeks. The most common formats are Test series (typically two to five matches), ODI series (three to five matches), and T20 series (two to five matches). Sportsbooks offer a range of markets on the series as a whole, the most popular being the series winner - which team wins the overall series.
Series betting sits in the futures category, meaning you lock in your bet before the first match and the outcome is settled once the final match is complete. You can also find markets on the series scoreline (for example, England winning 3-1 in a five-match Test series), top run-scorer across the series, and total match boundaries. Odds will shift throughout the series as results come in, so the price you see at the start may look very different by match three.
Real-life example
Imagine England are hosting India for a five-match Test series. Before the first ball is bowled, a sportsbook prices India as the series winner at +150 (American moneyline odds, meaning a winning bet pays $1.50 profit for every $1.00 staked). England are the favorites at -180, reflecting the expectation that home conditions will help them.
You decide to back India at +150 with a $100 stake. If India win the series outright - say, by winning three or more of the five Tests - your bet settles as a winner. Your payout would be your $100 stake returned plus $150 profit, giving you $250 total. If England win the series or the series is drawn (which can happen in a five-match Test series), your $100 stake is lost.
The math is straightforward: stake ($100) multiplied by the decimal equivalent of +150 (which is 2.50) equals a total return of $250. The key thing to understand is that a series draw is a valid result in Test cricket - always check how the sportsbook handles that outcome before placing your bet.
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Cricket series betting strategies and tips
Betting on a cricket series gives you more information and more time than betting on a single match. The strategies below are designed for beginners who want to approach series betting with a clear head rather than a gut feeling.
🔍 Research the playing conditions before you bet
Home advantage is significant in cricket because pitches vary dramatically by country. A spinning pitch in India favors the home side's spin bowlers, while a seaming pitch in England can neutralize strong batting line-ups. Check where the series is being played and look up recent home-away records for both teams before committing to a price.
📊 Compare the squad depth of both teams
Injuries and squad rotation matter more in a long series than in a single match. A team missing a key fast bowler for the whole series is at a serious disadvantage, and the odds may not fully reflect that news if it broke recently. Look at squad announcements in the days leading up to the series opener - you may find genuine value that the market has not yet priced in.
⏱️ Wait for early match results before betting the remainder
You do not have to bet on the series winner before it starts. If India win the first Test convincingly, their price to win the series will shorten - but if you believe the swing is overdone, there may be value on England at longer odds. Most sportsbooks will keep the series winner market open throughout the series, so patience can work in your favor.
💰 Use free bets to explore series scoreline markets
The series scoreline market (for example, "India win 3-2") carries much longer odds than a simple series winner bet, because the exact result is harder to predict. If you have access to free bets from a sportsbook promotion, a long-odds scoreline market is a low-risk way to explore these bets without using your own funds.
🧠 Track in-series momentum and weather disruptions
Test cricket results are shaped by rain, pitch deterioration, and player form over multiple days. A draw in the first Test caused by rain is very different from a dominant first-Test victory. Keep a running picture of how the series is developing - and check how your sportsbook handles weather-affected matches that produce no result before betting on specific scorelines.
When does the cricket series bet win?
For a series winner bet, your wager wins when the team you backed ends the series with more wins than the opposition. In a five-match Test series, a team needs to win at least three matches (or enough that the other team cannot catch up) to clinch the series. Some series can end in a draw if both teams finish level on wins - for example, 1-1 in a three-match ODI series that ends with a no-result match.
Always check the "void" or "push" rules for the specific market. If matches are abandoned without a result due to weather, some sportsbooks will settle the series winner market on matches actually completed, while others may void the bet entirely and return your stake. Edge cases are more common in cricket than in most other sports, so reading the sportsbook's cricket betting rules before you place the wager is worth the extra two minutes.
Mistakes to avoid when on cricket series
Series betting looks straightforward at first glance, but several beginner mistakes can turn a well-reasoned bet into an avoidable loss. The five traps below are the ones new cricket bettors encounter most often.
⚠️ Ignoring how draws are settled in Test series
In a Test series, a drawn series (equal wins for both teams) is a genuine and fairly common outcome. If you bet on a team to win the series without checking the draw settlement rules, you could lose your stake on a draw even if your team never lost a single Test. Always confirm whether "draw" is a third option in the market.
🚫 Betting on series odds without knowing the format
A two-match Test series is a much tighter contest than a five-match series because there are fewer opportunities for a team to recover from a poor first result. The number of matches in the series changes the probability of each outcome significantly. Check the full schedule - including the format (Test, ODI, or T20) - before you assess whether the odds represent fair value.
💸 Staking too much on pre-series futures odds
The price available before the first match is based on the most uncertain information - no one has seen the pitches, the weather forecast, or the current form of each player. Committing a large stake on the opening odds means you are exposed to every piece of news that follows. Smaller stakes on futures, or waiting until the series has started, helps protect your bankroll.
📉 Overlooking pitch and weather reports
Weather in England, for example, can completely change the character of a Test match. Persistent overcast conditions help seam bowlers and can turn a predicted high-scoring series into a low-scoring, match-to-match grind. Ignoring meteorological and pitch preparation news before betting on series totals (such as total boundaries) is one of the most common errors beginners make.
🎲 Chasing losses mid-series by doubling up on the losing side
If the team you backed loses the first two Tests, it is tempting to place a larger wager on them to win the remaining matches at longer odds. This pattern - often called "chasing" - means you are increasing your exposure at the moment when the evidence against your original bet is strongest. Stick to a pre-planned stake size for each bet regardless of what has happened in earlier matches.
Is cricket series betting available at top US sportsbooks?
Cricket series betting is available at several major US sportsbooks, although coverage is narrower than it is for domestic US sports. The market has grown noticeably in recent years, driven by the rise of T20 competitions and an expanding South Asian-American audience for the sport.
DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and bet365 all typically offer series winner markets on the highest-profile international series - most reliably India tours, The Ashes (England vs Australia), and ICC-sanctioned events. Bet365 in particular has historically offered deeper cricket coverage, including scoreline markets and top run-scorer props. If you live in a state where bet365 is licensed, it is worth checking their cricket section for the broadest range of series markets. For state-level availability and a full comparison, see cricket betting sites.
Is cricket series betting available for live betting?
Live (in-play) series betting is less common than live single-match betting, but most sportsbooks will update the series winner odds in real time as match results come in throughout the series. If India win the first Test convincingly, you will see England's series-winner price lengthen before the second match starts - and you can place a new bet at the updated odds.
In-play betting during an individual match within a series is more readily available, and those match-level odds can indirectly affect how you think about the series as a whole. Using live streaming through a sportsbook while monitoring the series winner market lets you react to real match developments rather than relying on news updates. Keep in mind that sportsbook margins on in-play cricket markets tend to be wider than pre-match, so the price you get live is usually less favorable than the price available before the series starts.
Cricket series betting pros and cons
Like any betting market, series betting comes with genuine advantages and real drawbacks. Understanding both sides helps you decide whether it suits your approach before you place your first wager.
- More information available as the series progresses
- Long odds available on exact scoreline markets
- Futures format suits patient, research-focused bettors
- Multiple matches mean momentum shifts can create value
- Series draws can void or complicate your bet
- Futures markets carry higher sportsbook margins
- Long settlement period ties up your stake for weeks
Related cricket bets
Series betting connects naturally to several other cricket and sports betting terms that are worth knowing before you start. The items below cover the most closely related concepts and how each one differs from a series bet.
🏆 Match Winner
A match winner bet is a wager on which team wins a single match rather than the overall series. It is the simplest and most common cricket market - settled at the end of one game rather than across several weeks. Learn more about the match winner market and how it works.
🎯 First Wicket Dismissal
The first wicket dismissal market asks you to bet on how the first wicket of a match will fall - bowled, caught, lbw, run out, or another method. It is a short-term, in-match market that settles within the first few overs, making it very different in character from a multi-week series bet. Read a full explanation of the first wicket dismissal market.
🔄 Fall of Next Wicket
Fall of next wicket is an in-play prop market where you predict the total score at which the next wicket will fall during a match. It is one of the fastest-settling cricket markets and requires close attention to the live game - the opposite of the set-and-wait nature of series betting. Explore how the fall of next wicket market works.
💡 Total Match Boundaries
The total match boundaries market lets you bet over or under a set number of fours and sixes in a single match. It focuses on how aggressively both teams play rather than on the winner. This is a good companion market to series betting because it gives you action during individual matches while your series winner bet runs in the background. See how total match boundaries betting works.
📚 Winning Bet
A winning bet is a general term for any wager that results in a successful payout - it describes the outcome of a bet rather than a specific market type. Understanding what counts as a winning bet in each cricket market, including the settlement rules for draws and abandonments, is essential before staking real money. Find out more about what makes a winning bet.
Final thoughts
Series betting is one of the most engaging ways to follow a cricket tour - your stake has a reason to care about every single match, and the evolving odds give you genuine decisions to make as the series progresses. The clearest piece of advice is to read the settlement rules before you bet, particularly around draws and abandoned matches, so there are no surprises when the series ends.
Take your time comparing the series winner price across several cricket betting sites before committing - a difference of even 10 to 20 cents on an American odds price can meaningfully change your payout on a longer series. Approach it with a clear stake plan and a realistic view of the uncertainty involved, and series betting can be a genuinely rewarding format to learn.
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
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- 20+ sports available for wagering
- Pre-match and in-play betting
- Unique features like live streaming and boosted odds
Bet $10 Get $200 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 Series betting.
What happens to my series winner bet if the series is drawn?
If both teams finish the series level on wins, the result is a draw. Some sportsbooks offer "draw" as a third option in the series winner market - if you did not back the draw, your bet loses. Other sportsbooks may void the series winner bet entirely and return your stake. Always check the specific settlement rules before placing the bet.
Can I bet on a cricket series if I am based in the United States?
Yes, cricket series betting is available in most US states where online sports betting is legal. Coverage varies by sportsbook - some carry only the highest-profile series (such as India tours and The Ashes), while others with deeper cricket offerings cover a wider range of international fixtures. Check which sportsbooks hold a license in your state and compare their cricket markets.
Is there a difference between betting on a Test series and a T20 series?
Yes, and it matters. A Test series typically involves two to five matches played over many days each, with draws more common and series outcomes more drawn out. A T20 series is shorter in duration and produces a definitive winner in each match - draws are not possible. T20 series odds tend to move more sharply after each match because there are fewer games left to shift the overall result.
