What's more, if you are really missing the action, there are apps that will let you have a slog of your own or bowl a few wrong 'uns without moving from your seat.
We cherry-pick seven of the best apps that will let you get your cricketing fix, whether in terms of action or information - no TV or cricket ground needed.
ESPN Cricinfo
There is a saying in online cricket circles that "if it is not in Cricinfo, it is not cricket," such is the near encyclopedic information that Cricinfo serves up to its followers. By far the most popular cricket web site in the world, it too has revamped its cricket app for both Android and iOS, with now a special section added for the World Cup. In terms of sheer information about the game, it is difficult to get any better than this with news, statistics, audio and video clips, and even push notifications about your team being built into the app. Our favourite section is the ‘magazine’ which contains a number of excellent—often tongue-in-cheek—articles about the game. No, it is not going to stop us from visiting the site itself time and again, but if there is one cricket app you should have on your handset, this is it.
Get it from Android Market, iTunes App Store
ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 - Official
This is the official app for the 2011 World Cup for iOS and Windows Phone 7 (alas, Indian users will not be able to get that version, unless they log in with a US ID), and while it is not the most attractive around (some player profiles do not have pictures of the players), it certainly delivers in terms of information. You have everything that you would need to keep tabs on the tournament from live match coverage together with text commentary, team statistics, team standings, video clippings and tournament photographs. What however is missing in this app is the news and features section, which is going to turn away a lot of purists who want a lot more than just live match coverage. We also could see no sign of any push notifications. Still, it is pretty zippy for those seeking to grab the latest score, stats and standings.
Get it from iTunes App Store, Windows Marketplace
Yahoo! Cricket
Yahoo! Hosts the official cricket web site for the 2011 World Cup, but has opted to release a full-fledged Yahoo!Cricket app only for iOS, although there is a more limited Yahoo! Cricket Score app available for other phone users too. In terms of live match information, it is very much spot on, although it is not the fastest app in town by means. You get live coverage with text commentary (which for some reasonable is available only when you hold the phone in landscape mode), lots of pictures, and news aplenty. We however were a bit disappointed not to find statistics, records and team profiles, and are hoping that those will be added in an update. The Nokia phone version of the app is restricted just to ongoing match coverage and does not even have news. Truth be told, we expected a bit more from Yahoo!, but even in its current avatar, the app is handy for keeping track of the World Cup.
Get it from iTunes App Store (in.m.yahoo.com/cricket)
Prof Deano
Some cricket fans might wince at the sight of one of limited over crickets' legends being dressed up in a gown and scholar's cap and being made to prance in front of a blackboard, pretending to be scientific about the game. Others, however, just loveProfessor Deano (short for former Aussie ODI legend Dean Jones), with his weird statistics (there is a 13.2 per cent chance of rain interrupting the match) and forthright opinions. And all of these come to the fore in these iOS and Android apps, where he is as quirky as ever and never short of figures and decidedly eccentric logic. Will we be using this app to find out the latest score? Unlikely. But we bet we are going to be opening it several times a match just to find out what Professor Deano has to say about the proceedings and check his stats as much as we do the official ones.
Get it from Android Market, iTunes App Store
Ultimate Cricket'11 World Cup Edition
Fed up of just hearing about cricket? Want to get out and have a swing or two yourself? Well, then this is just the app for you. Based on the World Cup , Ultimate Cricket'11 lets you bat and bowl to your heart's content on your Nokia S60, Symbian ^3 or BlackBerry handset. The graphics may not be cutting-edge, but the sheer choice of shots you can play more than compensates. We would also have preferred real player names (Tindulkar, Saywag and Gambeer, anyone?), but the fact that we are getting a very decent cricket game free does tend to make up for all the deliberate typos. It’s best to play it on a phone with buttons as our experiences on the touchscreen (Nokia N8) were a bit iffy.
Get it from BlackBerry App World, Nokia Ovi Store
Stick Cricket
Cricket is a batsman's game, the pundits tell us, and one day cricket is even more so. So what better way to get a taste of the action than picking up your willow and giving the white orb a jolly good thwack? Stick Cricket lets you do just that — it is batting at its basic best, as seen on the immensely popular StickCricket.com website. You see the ball coming, swing your bat and hope you have got your timing spot on. There are real player names, including those of some legends, and while you can have a jolly good slog by yourself, you can also play against a friend by passing your handset to them for their innings. There is no bowling, no running between the wickets, no setting the fields, just hammering the ball to all parts of the ground. The sound effects are good, the graphics are decent and although it does not really appear to be as comprehensive as most of the other cricket games out there, the sheer simplicity sucks you in. Terrific for a good adrenaline rush. It is mainly available for iOS, although there is an older version of the game called Ian Botham Stick Cricket available for Java handsets too.
Get it from iTunes App Store
Cricket Wars
This app is like playing cricket in a multiplayer online role playing game universe. You pick an avatar and the guide the person right through all the way, taking on challenges from other players in the community, playing matches, picking up gear (there is a virtual money system in the game), and attempting to move up the community rankings and building your own team. There is no ‘real’ action as in you are not going to be asked to swing a bat or hurl a ball in anger at any stage — just lots and lots of decisions, each of which could have an impact on your player and team. There is plenty of information going around to help you make up your mind, from weather conditions to details of current skill levels. And you can even share your progress on Facebook . Best of all — the game actually never really ends, you can keep playing it in an endless mode, just like a classic online role playing game. Thoroughly recommended for those who prefer using their little grey cells rather than sheer brawn on the pitch!
Get it from Android Market, iTunes App Store
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