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They are two sports that are not frequently considered together, but cricket and poker have many similarities. They both have centuries old histories, and both saw global growth during the 19th and 20th centuries. Both sports have an element of class and sophistication, with cricket conjuring up images of tea breaks, whilst poker has strong associations with the glamorous casinos of Las Vegas, Macao and Monaco. The similarities don’t end here, below are examples of some others.

Focus on the Process

Poker players will know that sometimes you’ll be dealt a bad hand of cards; good players will understand that how they handle bad hands is just as important as their approach to good hands. Skilled poker players know that their goal is continually make the best decisions under the circumstances, without too much concern for a single hand.

This is similar in cricket, a batsman must make decisions on how aggressive to play to achieve the best outcome. An aggressive approach prevents the bowlers from finding a rhythm, and could decide the game in his team's favour. Conversely, this approach could also give away too many wickets, and result in his team losing the game. Ultimately the player must make the decision based on what he believes to be the most probable outcome, given what he knows about his own performance and his opponents'.

It's a Marathon Not a Sprint

Cricket matches can last a long time, and so can poker games. It is important for players of both games to ensure that they remain focused, and realise that one bad hand, or one bad hit, is not the end of the game. Sports like football and rugby may have matches that last for less than two hours, but a cricket match is generally played over three to five days (yes, days). Although a poker tournament might be shorter at five to seven hours, this is a significant time to maintain high levels of concentration.

This concentration is important; poker players must make many strategic decisions and good players will fold many more times than they play a hand, understanding when to bluff and doing it well. A bowler in cricket must also make strategic decisions, understanding the type of batter he is facing and changing his bowling technique accordingly. It’s therefore vital for both cricket and poker players to ensure they pace themselves, and settle in for the long haul. Without this mental and physical stamina, no level of skill will be able to compensate for the inability to perform for the whole game.

Good Sportsmanship

Unlike some sports where trash talking or displays of aggression may be seen as the norm, respect is an important part of both cricket and poker. Whether it be respect for the rules, fellow players, the dealer (in poker) or the umpire (in cricket), these are vital parts of both games.

No person or team can win every game or match, therefore grace and respect in victory and defeat are important too. Good poker and cricket players will always shake hands after a game as it’s a sign of good sportsmanship and respect. Of course this does not mean friendly rivalry can’t develop between teams and players, and certainly in poker, players will spend a lot of time bluffing and reading each other’s body language.

Skill and Practice

There is an old saying that it takes 10,000 hours to perfect a skill, although this has mostly been debunked by modern research. However, the underlying message remains true: “practice makes perfect”. This is certainly the case for both cricket and poker, both are games of skill that can be easy to learn, but difficult to master. In cricket it may be possible to bowl to a reasonable level of skill after a short period of practice, but a strong understanding of the intricacies of different bounces, spin and speeds will take many years to develop.

There are certainly many differences between poker and cricket; the latter is certainly more physically demanding. Despite their differences, they are similar in many areas too. This includes the necessity for players to be strategic in their approach to the game, with a focus on the long game. Both sports also have long running times; poker tournaments can take up as many as seven hours, whilst a cricket match could run for as long as 5 days. Whilst the technical skills may not be directly transferable, the underlying principles of sportsmanship, longevity and practice are certainly common themes in both games.