Cricket Series and Tournaments  

Among the great things about cricket is how many different tournaments there are to follow. A range of formats are available, with some games taking a couple of hours to complete from start to finish, while Test Match cricket takes place over a five-day period. 

This means there is something for everyone. Cricket purists may prefer Test series that play out over a few weeks, while younger fans might prefer the explosive nature of T20 contests and even The Hundred games, that are rapid-fire events that are over in a shorter time. 

The diversity of cricket makes it perfect to bet on, for people of all betting experience levels. Our full guide to cricket series and tournaments tells you all you need to know, so read on for more. 

Cricket Series/Tournaments We Cover 

Cricket Formats 

As we mentioned above, there are various formats cricket matches can be played in nowadays. 

The three most famous cricket competition formats are as follows:  

Let's take a look at the three main cricket formats in greater detail in the next part of our guide below. 

T20 

It might feel as though T20 cricket has been around forever, but actually this format is still quite a new invention. 

It is around two decades since the T20 format was introduced in England and it spread very fast. There is now a T20 World Cup, which is watched by millions of passionate cricket fans. 

Now, T20s have become arguably the world's most popular format of cricket, with the Indian Premier League (IPL) growing into nothing short of a sporting juggernaut. 

Launched in 2008, the IPL brand is now said to be worth billions of dollars. Expansion plans are often proposed to make the IPL even bigger and better. 

Rival domestic T20 leagues now jostle for space in a crowded cricket calendar, but this means that fans of the game always have some explosive action to watch somewhere in the world. 

With both sides having just 20 overs to score as many runs as they can, T20 cricket is seen as a more family-friendly form of the game, taking around three hours to complete.  

Women's T20 competitions are also becoming more widespread. In India, the Women's Premier League (WPL) continues to grow and is run alongside the IPL in order to boost its popularity. 

One Day International (ODI) 

ODI matches are still popular despite the rise of T20s, with the Cricket World Cup arguably the peak of the sport. Played every four years, the Cricket World Cup was recently hosted in India in 2023.  

The Indian home team were unable to capitalise on the home crowd advantage, and instead it was Australia who lifted the trophy for a record-extending sixth time. 

As the name ODI suggests, these matches are played over a day. Each side gets 50 overs in their innings, although this can be shortened in the event of bad weather conditions. 

The next edition of the Cricket World Cup is set for 2027, when it will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. 

Test Cricket 

For many, Test cricket remains the peak of the sport, though some might argue that the format could be dying out. 

The popularity of T20 cricket is increasingly squeezing Test cricket to the margins of the game, although series between the heavyweight trio of India, England and Australia remain popular. 

England and Australia face off in a contest called The Ashes, which is played every two years. These Test matches are among the most eagerly awaited of all cricket competitions. 

A few years ago, the sport's authorities attempted to give context to the various Test series that are played by launching the World Test Championship, which ends with a one-off match. 

The first ever World Test Championship saw India reach the final, but the team were beaten by New Zealand. In 2023, India again made it through to the final, but this time Australia won by 209 runs at London's The Oval.  

Comparison

Other Cricket Formats  

Along with the above events, there are some other exciting formats worth mentioning, such as:  

First-Class Cricket  

Matches played over a few days in countries such as England (the County Championship) and Australia (the Sheffield Shield), this is a highly traditional format. 

The Hundred / 100-Ball Cricket 

Launched in England in a bid to attract a younger audience, this format has no overs, with bowlers delivering sets of five balls instead. 

List A Cricket

A limited-overs format of the game, played with 40 to 60 overs per side, falling between T20 and Test matches in terms of duration. Commonly used in domestic one-day competitions such as the New Zealand Ford Tropy.

90-Ball Cricket

90-ball cricket is a limited-overs format of the game primarily played in England, where each side faces 15 six-ball overs (90 balls total), seen in recreational leagues and designed for faster-paced matches.

Betting Tips 

Here at OCBscores, we provide free betting tips on all of the competitions that we cover. 

Published around 24-48 hours before the start of a match, our match predictions take factors like team news, player stats and the condition of the pitch into account. 

Check out today's match predictions if you feel like having a bet on an upcoming match. 

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