Betting has always been a part of sports, including cricket. However, with technology improvements and innovations, sportsbooks have evolved into something entirely new. There are multiple new ways in which cricket fans can interact with the sport. There are online betting, live betting that allows fans to stream ongoing matches, and more.
The existence of the Simulated Reality League (SRL for short) was a breath of fresh air for sports bettors. For those who are new to SRLs, here’s everything you need to know.
What is Simulated Reality League?
A Simulated Reality League is a virtual sporting event that simulates real-life matches. It may look like a video game, but the data used to simulate the events is taken from real players and previous matches. That way, the simulation can provide a virtual match that would play out realistically.
When creating a virtual match, developers would gather historical data, real-life statistics, and other real-world information to build an algorithm. It’ll then play out into a simulation backed by computer graphics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.
After gathering the data, the machine analyzes them to generate a vast number of outcomes and cricket situations that mimic an actual match and real-life occurrences. These may include the team forms and specific player performances. There are over 50,000 real matches used as data to ensure a realistic outcome. With a massive amount of information used to build the virtual match, the outcome remains unpredictable.
That’s why when watching an SRL cricket, you’ll find it highly realistic as they do reflect real-life events. In addition, each virtual match will last 60 to 90 minutes, similar to a real cricket event.
When compared to traditional sports events, bettors will find a wider range of SRL choices available. The fixtures are similar to real-life leagues or tournaments, but there would be more than enough events to bet on daily. Besides cricket, some reputable sportsbooks like Sportsbet usually have SRL for other popular sports like tennis and football.
How does SRL Cricket Work?
Before an SRL match is generated, the AI behind the system will analyze all significant and minor details. These include scores, trades, injuries, rosters, homecourt, and head-to-heads. It’ll gather information across multiple seasons. Then, it generates a digital league, artificial teams that will play each other.
As the real-life cricket players and team keep evolving and changing, the algorithms will be regularly updated. Then, it’ll simulate even millions of unique matches based on the information it holds. It feels like traditional sports betting, yet machine learning and AI give a more unique twist.
AI can learn from mistakes that happen during simulations and predictions. The system can consider all bets placed while updating the algorithm to fill the gap between the simulation and user expectations. That means the AI will get better over time.
The rules and possibilities are the same. There are underdogs and favorites, and as there’s no set script running the simulation, it can provide unpredictable scenarios. It retains the fairness of a real cricket game with potential surprise moments like injuries and comebacks.
Then, like doing live cricket betting, bettors can watch the game and keep up with the scores. Some of the best cricket leagues have their SRL counterpart, such as the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Australian Big Bash League (BBL).
Popular Cricket SRLs
- Big Bash League: When it comes to cricket events, Australia’s Big Bash League is one of the premier global T20 competitions. Sportsbooks offering SRL BBL would usually allow bettors to bet on teams like Sydney Thunder, Adelaide Strikers, and Brisbane Heat.
- International T20s: International and domestic 20-over matches are usually included in a sportsbook’s cricket SRL events. Bettors can then wager on teams like South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.
- Caribbean Premier League: It’s an annual T20 cricket tournament, so it’s one of the most popular cricket SLRs that bettors can enjoy more often. It features some of the best teams across the Caribbean, like Barbados Royals, Trinbago Knight Riders, and Saint Lucia Kings.
- Super Smash: If you like to wager on New Zealand’s T20 domestic cricket league, you can find Northern Brave, Canterbury Kings, Auckland Aces, and Central Stags facing each other on Super Smash SRL.
- Indian Premier League: Among the world’s most-watched cricket leagues is the IPL or Indian Premier League. They’re the richest and arguably the most popular cricket league globally, which is usually held between March and May. With IPL SRL, you can enjoy betting on the event all year.
- Pakistan Super League: Pakistan Super League SRL is among the events that you can commonly find in many sportsbooks. It includes teams like Karachi Kings, Multan Sultans, and Peshawar Zalmi.
- South Africa T20 League: Many sportsbooks also feature the South Africa T20 league. They feature teams like Sunrisers Eastern Cape and Joburg Super Kings.
Why SRL Easily Hooked Cricket Fans
SRL is still relatively new, but it has quickly gained popularity among cricket fans. There are multiple reasons why SRL was able to appeal to cricket fans.
Accessibility and Availability
Like other sports’ SRL, one of the main reasons why SRL can quickly gain popularity among sports fans is its availability. When bettors want to wager on their favorite sporting event or teams, they need to wait until the tournament takes place. However, SRL matches are available 24/7, even during the off-season.
It’s even more important for cricket, as cricket leagues last a lot shorter than other sports. Some of the most popular domestic leagues, like India, Bangladesh, Australia, and South Africa, are only active for one to three months. With SRL, fans get more chances to bet and engage with the sport.
In addition, they can also bet on SRL while betting on the real match when they’re in season. It’s a strategy done by many bettors to increase their winning chances.
SRL cricket also helps fans residing in any country to engage regardless of time zone differences. They won’t have to make time to ensure they don’t miss the match or wake up in the middle of the night to participate. With SRL, they can quickly jump into the game whenever they want.
Less Predictable
Although SRL runs simulations based on pre-existing data, it still carries a degree of unpredictability. Compared to traditional sports betting, it’s relatively more unpredictable. Even if the bettor knows the player’s statistics and previous records well, there are hundreds of analyzed matches that the simulation uses.
That massive amount of information can give a more unpredictable result, which cricket fans may find more thrilling. It might seem riskier than betting on SRL cricket, but it can feel more exciting to some people.
Wide Range of Choices
Sportsbooks offering SRLs usually also feature other sports. That way, you can bet on cricket SRL, but also try other sports SRL. Popular options like tennis, basketball, and soccer are usually available alongside cricket. Regardless of which sport is off season, fans would still be able to find a tournament to bet on through SRL.
Immersion and Realism
SRLs might be virtual matches that don’t actually happen on the field. Still, the graphics design and the technology behind the simulation ensure users can experience it like an actual sport. SRL went beyond just analyzing players and matches. It also takes into account other situations like weather conditions.
Unprecedented scenarios would happen naturally and realistically. Some SRL matches also feature virtual commentaries. In terms of graphics design, SRLs rival high-quality sports video games like FIFA and NBA2K. As you watch the virtual sport, you can also hear the stadium ambience sound, such as the audience cheering as if you’re physically watching the match.
