The Top Cricket Games Fans Can Play Before the Upcoming Ashes Series

This year’s Ashes returns to British soil as the men’s England team hope to avenge Australia’s dominant triumph last time out. The contest will visit some of English cricket’s most iconic stadiums throughout its 6-week duration. 

The first match, due to take place on the 16^th of June, will visit Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham. The teams then head north towards Leeds’s Headingley Ground from the 28^th of June to July 2^nd. 

Matches at Lord’s and The Oval will take place in the capital before the series returns up north to the final venue. Old Trafford will host the last game, which is due to take place from 27^th July- 31^st July. 

The women’s team also suffered defeat last time out and will themselves be set on revenge. As usual, their Ashes format will differ slightly from the men’s and will consist of a multi-format series.

This includes a five-day Test, three T20s and three ODIs. This year’s record-breaking women’s event will visit some, but not all, of the men’s team’s venues.

The first test match, scheduled for the 22-26^th June, will take place in Trent Bridge, Nottingham. Birmingham’s Edgbaston will host the first T20 match on July 1^st. 

Four days later, the Kia Oval will host the second match on July 5^th. The final T20 match will take place at Lord’s on July 8^th before the one-day internationals begin. 

Bristol will host the first, before the team’s head south to Southampton for the second outing on July 16^th. The women’s Ashes will conclude in Taunton on July 18^th. 

For eager fans yearning for the start of the Ashes, there are some great games to get you in the cricketing mood. 

Cricket 24

Early April saw the announcement of Cricket 24, which has produced a huge buzz within the cricket community. The previous iteration, Cricket 22 was released for the last Ashes series to both commercial success and critical praise. 

Whilst the game is the perfect companion for the Ashes, it’s brimming with content and features encompassing every aspect of global cricket. The sport’s biggest leagues are all playable, including the KFC Big Bash League, The Hundred and the Caribbean Premier League.

Cricket 24 is also said to have more official licences than previous releases, with 50 official stadiums and over 200 players. This includes vital representation of Indian teams, something which will be novel to this latest release. 

There is a Pro Teams mode that is akin FIFA’s Ultimate Team, allowing players to build their dream, star-studded team. Cricket 24 will see a continued commitment to inclusivity by featuring crucial representation with women’s teams and players. 

Cricket 24 being hailed as the most realistic video game depiction of the sport ever produced. The game is also branded the ‘Official Game of the Ashes’ and is set to be released in the coming weeks. 

Cricket Themed Slot Games

The popularity of online slots has spawned countless slot games that perfectly capture the essence of cricket. Playing slots is already a favourite pastime of many cricket lovers, making combining the two a no-brainer. 

Rainbow Riches Casino hosts a range of these slots machines online and is a great destination for cricket and slots fans. Some of the most popular titles include Cricket Star, The Umpire Strikes Back and Cricket Legends. 

Stick Cricket

Cricket fans don’t have to spend money to get into the Ashes spirit as there are some terrific free games. Stick Cricket is the pick of the bunch, and can be played on both desktop, laptop and mobile devices. 

Variations such as Stick Cricket Live, Super League, Premier League and classic are all available on the App Store. An iteration called Ashes Dominator is available exclusively on laptops and PC and perfectly encapsulates the tournament’s fiery spirit. 

Stick Cricket Live pits players against each other in real time in cricket grounds from across the globe. Correctly timing your swing is the core of the gameplay, with Switch Hit, Scoop and Ramp shots all possible. 

The player’s coaching credentials are also tested, as tactical bowling changes and team selection play a vital role. Bowlers need frequent upgrades to reach their full potential, making the game quick to learn but hard to master.

The level of customisation includes player names, their country of origin and even their appearance. 

Ashes Fans are Spoilt for Choice

The build up to our favourite competitions always seems painfully slow as we eagerly await the illusive first game. This is especially true of the Ashes, where the bitter England- Australia rivalry always makes for good viewing. 

Playing the right game can get you extra hyped for the upcoming series. From free mobile titles to AAA releases, there are plenty of games that are sure to get Ashes fans in the mood.