International cricket is one of the most popular betting sports in the world, especially in Asia. The 20/20 format has, in recent times, revolutionised the sport and greatly increased its popularity.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is the governing body for international cricket. It organises major events such as the Cricket World Cup and the ICC World Twenty20. Events such as test matches are organised bilaterally by the two competing countries. There are only ten countries � 'full' members of the ICC � who are allowed to hold official test matches, but there are 34 Associate Members who play organised cricket. Cricket matches are thus a regular occurrence.

The Ashes, the famous biennial test series between England and Australia, is another major event on the cricket calendar with a following that extends far beyond just those two countries. Following the narrowing of the cricketing gap between England and Australia, culminating in England's win in 2009, the level of interest in the series has been significantly increased.

Match betting is the standard betting option in cricket; punters simply choose the team they think will win a match. However, there are many other markets available. Top run scorer, wherein you pick the highest scoring player on a team, generally offers fairly high odds - so you can back several players and still get a payout. There is also highest opening partnership, in which you bet which of the two teams' opening partnerships will get the most runs. A further option is first innings lead, where you can place a bet as to which team will achieve the most runs in the first innings. There are many additional markets over and beyond those mentioned above.