| Possibly of all sports, the one which lends itself best | | | | will perform. |
| to spread betting is Test cricket. Much of the | | | | Spread betting on cricket works exactly as it does |
| excitement sports spread betting delivers comes | | | | spread betting on all other sports. A market is made, |
| from the volatility it offers in terms of how many | | | | say for example on Andrew Strauss first innings runs |
| units above or below the spread a market makes up. | | | | 42-47. This means the market maker thinks Strauss |
| While football might be the most popular sport on | | | | will score between 42 and 47 runs. |
| which to place a spread bet, a high scoring football | | | | * If you think Strauss will score more than 47 runs |
| match might only have five or six goals. A high | | | | you might 'buy' or 'go high' at the top end of the |
| scoring cricket match however is likely to have 1,500 | | | | quote (47). You will need to determine your unit |
| or more runs which means potentially huge upside | | | | stake as to what every run is worth (say £1 |
| (and downside of course)! | | | | a run). For every run more than the quote Strauss |
| Nearly all Test cricket spread betting markets are | | | | scores you win your unit stake. So if he scores 92 |
| traded in-running throughout the duration of the Test. | | | | you win 45 units (or £45). |
| The most popular markets are: | | | | For every run less than 47 he scores however you |
| * Team runs: (a quote is set for the number of runs | | | | will lose a unit or £1. So if he only makes a |
| a team is expected to score in an innings and the | | | | paltry 12 you would lose 35 units (or £35). |
| client is challenged as to whether they think it'll be | | | | * You may however think he'll score less than 42 |
| higher or lower than the market | | | | runs, in which case you may wish to 'sell' or 'go low' |
| * Batsman runs: will a batsman score more or less | | | | at the low end of the quote (42), again lets say your |
| runs than the market quoted | | | | stake is £1 a unit. Providing Strauss scores less |
| * Session runs: buy or sell depending on whether you | | | | than 42 you will make money, if for example he |
| believe a team will score more or less runs than the | | | | makes 32 you'd make 10 units or £10 (10 units |
| quoted market in a session | | | | less than the point at which you 'sold'). |
| * First wicket runs: how many runs will a team score | | | | If however Strauss goes on to hit 55 runs, you |
| before the first wicket goes down - will it be more | | | | would lose the difference between the level at which |
| or less than the market quote? This market is | | | | you sold and the number of runs Strauss scored (55 |
| repeated for second, third, fourth wickets etc | | | | runs scored minus 42 point at which market was |
| * 25 Index: Team that wins Test scores 25 points, if | | | | sold) so 13 units or £13. |
| the match is a draw a tie or abandoned both teams | | | | Spread betting is a leveraged product and can result |
| awarded 10 points. The losing team gets zero points. | | | | in losses that exceed your initial deposit. |
| Buy or sell depending on how you think the teams | | | | |