Cricket 24 launched with the biggest Big Ant roster yet and the patch cadence to match, but the fielding AI still throws wickets away in close finishes, the Career Mode tuning swings between trivial and grindy, and the multiplayer matchmaking pool outside India is thin enough that finding a balanced game can take 15 minutes on a weekday evening. We spent weeks playing the modern PC cricket scene and put together this list of seven Cricket 24 alternatives for desktop in 2026.
This guide covers cricket games with active updates, real licensed teams or strong custom rosters, and the kind of batting/bowling depth that Cricket 24 set as the bar. Some are Big Ant’s earlier or newer entries. Others come from different studios. All of them run on Windows in 2026.
Quick comparison
| Game | Best for | Cost | Where to buy | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cricket 26 – The Ashes | The new Big Ant standard | $59.99 | Steam | Refined batting, Ashes Mode |
| Cricket 22 | Older Ashes-era refinement | $29.99 | Steam | Polished after patches |
| Cricket 19 | Cheapest full-content Big Ant | $19.99 | Steam | Best price-to-content ratio |
| Don Bradman Cricket 17 | Classic Big Ant career sim | $19.99 | Steam | The defining cricket career mode |
| Ashes Cricket | Officially licensed Ashes title | $19.99 | Steam | Real Ashes squads |
| International Cricket Captain 2023 | Management instead of arcade | $19.99 | Steam | Tactical management focus |
| Super Mega Baseball 4 | Different sport, similar batting joy | $39.99 | Steam | Adjustable simulation depth |
Why people leave Cricket 24 on PC
The complaints repeat across the Big Ant forum and the Steam discussions:
Fielding AI throws away wickets
Patches improved direct-hit logic and outfield positioning, but mid-air collisions, wonky catches at long-on, and the keeper’s stumping reflex still cost players matches when they’re holding tight finishes. The issue tracks back to earlier Big Ant titles and the engine hasn’t shaken it.
Career Mode pacing is uneven
Some career players find the early-career grind tedious. Others find the late-career T20 leagues too generous with scoring. Difficulty sliders help but don’t fully address the underlying balance.
Multiplayer scene is regional
Indian and Australian matchmaking pools are healthy. Finding consistent online games in other regions can take 10 to 15 minutes for a balanced match. Connection issues with players on weaker networks compound the problem.
UI menus and stat tracking feel dated
Career stats, league tables, and replay management feel two generations behind modern sports games. Big Ant has acknowledged the issue and shipped partial fixes but the cumulative polish lags Cricket 26.
The alternatives
Cricket 26 – The Official Game of the Ashes — Best modern Big Ant
Cricket 26 – The Official Game of the Ashes is Big Ant’s most refined release. The batting model is more rewarding for footwork, the bowling AI varies pace and length better than Cricket 24, and the Ashes Mode captures the cricketing pageant the way a series like that deserves. Career Mode tuning landed in a better place at launch than Cricket 24’s did.
For Cricket 24 players, Cricket 26 is the natural upgrade. Same engine DNA, sharper presentation, better AI in close finishes.
Where it falls short: Steep launch price. Some player faces still look generic outside the Ashes squads. Initial PC port had minor optimization issues that patches addressed.
Pricing:
- $59.99 base game (early sales to $39)
- Career mode and Ashes mode included
- vs Cricket 24: Pricier, more polished.
Switching from Cricket 24: Same control scheme. Slightly tighter fielding AI. New animation pipeline rewards good footwork.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick Cricket 26 if you want the most current Big Ant title with the Ashes presentation. Skip if you’d rather pay less for Cricket 24’s content base.
Cricket 22 — Best polished older entry
Cricket 22 is the post-patch refinement of the Big Ant formula. The Ashes 2021/22 was the licensing hook, but the gameplay loop — career mode, online competitive, custom team builder — is well-served by three years of patches. It runs on lower-end PCs and the multiplayer scene is still active in 2026.
For Cricket 24 players, Cricket 22 is the option when you want a similar feel for less. Most of the modern Big Ant systems are here in earlier form.
Where it falls short: Smaller updated roster than Cricket 24 or 26. Some animations look dated next to Cricket 26. AI quirks from earlier engine generation remain.
Pricing:
- $29.99 base game (sales to $10)
- Includes Ashes 2021/22 license
- vs Cricket 24: Cheaper, slightly older.
Switching from Cricket 24: Familiar controls. Slightly less polished AI. Same career and online modes.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick Cricket 22 when Cricket 24’s price doesn’t justify the upgrade. Skip if you need the latest licenses.
Cricket 19 — Best budget Big Ant
Cricket 19 is the older title that gives the most cricket per dollar. The Career Mode is widely considered the franchise high point — players coming off Cricket 24’s pacing complaints often find Cricket 19’s tighter career loop more satisfying. The multiplayer is thinner but still has a small dedicated community.
For Cricket 24 players, Cricket 19 is the option when you want the career-mode depth that older Big Ant titles delivered better than the recent ones.
Where it falls short: Older animations and graphics. Smaller licensed roster. Multiplayer pool is the smallest of the active Big Ant titles.
Pricing:
- $19.99 base game (sales to $5)
- Includes Ashes 2019 license
- vs Cricket 24: Substantially cheaper, older.
Switching from Cricket 24: Tighter career mode pacing. Older controls feel slightly less precise. Same fundamental cricket physics.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick Cricket 19 for the best Big Ant career mode at the lowest price. Skip if visuals and animation polish matter most.
Don Bradman Cricket 17 — Best classic Big Ant career
Don Bradman Cricket 17 is the title that built Big Ant’s reputation. The career mode was groundbreaking for cricket games in 2017 and still holds up. Custom team builder, deep career progression, and the cricket physics that the franchise has been refining ever since. Active community for legacy modding.
For Cricket 24 players, DBC17 is the option when you want to play the title that set the modern bar for cricket sim career modes.
Where it falls short: Pre-2018 visuals and UI. No active patches or balance updates. Multiplayer is functional but tiny. Custom team importing requires community workarounds in 2026.
Pricing:
- $19.99 base game (sales to $3)
- No active DLC
- vs Cricket 24: Cheaper, older, smaller scope.
Switching from Cricket 24: Classic controls with similar batting philosophy. Significantly older presentation. Same career-mode design DNA.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick DBC17 if you want the classic career mode that defined the franchise. Skip if you need active updates or modern visuals.
Ashes Cricket — Best licensed Ashes title
Ashes Cricket is Big Ant’s licensed Ashes 2017/18 entry. Real Ashes squads, real stadiums, focused gameplay around the series format. It sits between Cricket 19 and DBC17 in polish and brings the explicit Ashes hook for fans of the rivalry.
For Cricket 24 players, Ashes Cricket is the option when you want the Ashes presentation specifically and don’t need the broader licensed roster.
Where it falls short: Narrow content focus. Older engine. Limited career mode depth compared to DBC17 or Cricket 19. Multiplayer pool is small.
Pricing:
- $19.99 base game (sales to $4)
- No active DLC
- vs Cricket 24: Cheaper, much narrower scope.
Switching from Cricket 24: Real Ashes squads only. Tighter focus, less content variety. Older controls feel.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick Ashes Cricket for licensed Ashes content on a budget. Skip if you want broad cricket content.
International Cricket Captain 2023 — Best management sim
International Cricket Captain 2023 changes the format. Instead of swinging the bat yourself, you manage the team — squad selection, batting orders, bowling rotations, field placements. The detail in player attributes and match progression is closer to Football Manager than a swing-and-bowl title. Career mode runs across decades of simulated cricket.
For Cricket 24 players, this is the option when arcade-style batting has worn out and the management layer pulls. The two genres complement each other well.
Where it falls short: No first-person batting or bowling. Visual presentation is text-and-data-heavy. Learning curve for management systems is steep for arcade-only players.
Pricing:
- $19.99 base game (sales to $8)
- Annual updates as separate releases
- vs Cricket 24: Cheaper, different sub-genre.
Switching from Cricket 24: Manage instead of play. Strategic decisions replace mechanical execution. Data-driven match results.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick Cricket Captain when you want strategy over execution. Skip if you specifically want to feel the bat connect with the ball.
Super Mega Baseball 4 — Best different sport, similar joy
Super Mega Baseball 4 is the closest non-cricket entry that scratches the same hit-and-time-it itch. Batting feels nuanced. Pitching demands timing and read. Career mode runs through seasons with rosters, lineups, and stat tracking. The Ego slider lets you set simulation depth precisely.
For Cricket 24 players, SMB4 is the cross-pollination option when you want batting joy in a different sport. Cricket and baseball share more design DNA than people realize.
Where it falls short: It’s baseball, not cricket. No cricket-specific systems (overs, dismissals, fielding spread). Smaller audience overlap.
Pricing:
- $39.99 base game (sales to $20)
- Pennant Race seasonal content
- vs Cricket 24: Comparable, different sport.
Switching from Cricket 24: Baseball rules. Batting feels familiar but is timed differently. Career mode is comparable in depth.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick SMB4 if you want a polished batting sport game outside cricket. Skip if you only want cricket.
How to choose
Pick Cricket 26 if you want the most current and polished Big Ant title with the Ashes hook.
Pick Cricket 22 when Cricket 24 isn’t a meaningful step up from the older title and you’d rather save the price difference.
Pick Cricket 19 for the best price-to-career-mode ratio in the franchise.
Pick Don Bradman Cricket 17 for the career mode that defined the modern cricket sim genre.
Pick Ashes Cricket for licensed Ashes content on a budget.
Pick International Cricket Captain 2023 if you want management over arcade. The two formats complement each other well.
Pick Super Mega Baseball 4 for batting joy in a different sport.
Stay on Cricket 24 if you need the most current rosters and the active multiplayer pool that the recent release maintains. None of the older Big Ant titles match its current content.
FAQ
Is Cricket 26 better than Cricket 24?
Yes, in most ways. Cricket 26 is more polished at launch, has better Ashes presentation, and the AI quirks in close finishes are reduced. Cricket 24 is cheaper now that Cricket 26 is out.
Can I import Cricket 24 career progress to Cricket 26?
No. Big Ant titles don’t share save data across releases. Custom teams created in earlier titles can sometimes be reimported through community tools, but career progress doesn’t transfer.
What is the cheapest Cricket 24 alternative?
Don Bradman Cricket 17 and Ashes Cricket both go below $5 in sales. Cricket 19 is the cheapest title with current-generation Big Ant systems.
Is there a free version of Cricket 24?
No legitimate free version exists. Demo versions of older Big Ant titles have appeared in the past — none is currently active for Cricket 24.
What do people use instead of Cricket 24 for management cricket?
International Cricket Captain 2023 is the standard. Each year’s release iterates on the previous one and the franchise is the only consistent cricket management sim on PC.
Will there be a Cricket 28 or successor?
Big Ant Studios releases a major cricket title every two years on average. A 2027 or 2028 entry would follow the franchise pattern. No specific announcement exists at time of writing.
