How to play online cricket with friends: lobbies and codes

Cricket is better with people you know. In NPL Cricket League you and your friends get into one lobby, split into two sides, and play each other for real: one of you bowls, one of you bats, and the rest are in the field. This guide takes you from the home screen to the first ball.

It describes the build we are testing now. Details can change before release; if they do, we'll update this page.

What you need first

• An account. You sign in with your email address. We send a six-digit code each time, so there is no password to remember.
• A username that other players will see. You pick it the first time you sign in.
• A connection. Online matches are decided on our server, ball by ball, so both the lobby and the match need the internet. Practice mode works without it.

Three ways into a lobby

Tap PLAY ONLINE on the home screen and you get four choices:

• Quick join puts you straight into the fullest open lobby that still has room. If there isn't one, it opens a new lobby for you.
• Create lobby makes your own.
• Browse lists open lobbies you can join, and lobbies hosted by your friends.
• Join with code takes the six-character code a friend sent you.

Creating your own lobby

When you create a lobby you choose three things:

• Overs. A 2-over Blitz or a 5-over Quick match. The formats guide explains the difference.
• Team size. Anything from 1 v 1 up to 11 v 11.
• Who can join.
  • Private: only people with the code or an invite.
  • Friends: people on your friend list can also join.
  • Open: anyone can find it in Browse and Quick join.

As host you can change these settings until the match starts, and you can lock the lobby when everyone you want is in.

Getting your friends in

Every lobby has a six-character code shown at the top right, with a Share button beside it. Send the code in any chat app and your friends type it into Join with code.

If they are already on your friend list, it is even quicker: tap Invite in the lobby and pick them. They get the invitation on their screen and join with one tap.

To add someone as a friend, open the Friends panel from the home screen and send a request by username. You can also add a player you have just met from the lobby itself.

Sides, captains and getting ready

The lobby has two sides, Side A and Side B. You can see every player standing on the stage with their name.

• Switch side moves you across if there is room.
• Each side has a captain, marked with a C. The host can make someone else captain; a captain can hand it on. Captains matter later, at the toss and when choosing bowlers.
• When you are set, tap Ready. A green tick appears next to your name.

The host's Start button lights up once every player is ready and each side has at least one player.

Talking in the lobby

There are three ways to talk, all at the bottom left:

• Chat. Quick lines such as "Let's go!", "Nice shot" and "Well bowled" in one tap, or type your own short message.
• Voice. One-tap voice commands that play a recorded call for everyone: "Catch it!", "Howzat!", "Run! Run!", "What a shot!". They also work during the match.
• Emote. Your player raises the bat, claps, salutes or dances on the stage.

If someone is being unpleasant, tap their name. You can mute, report or block them on the spot; our fair play guide explains what each one does.

From the lobby to the first ball

Once the host taps Start, three short steps follow:

1. The toss. One captain calls heads or tails. The winner chooses to bat or bowl.
2. The batting order. Each captain sets the order by tapping two players to swap them.
3. The match. The fielding captain picks a bowler, and the first ball is bowled.

Each step has a short timer so nobody is left waiting. The captain's guide covers all three in detail.

If your connection drops

Your place is held for a short while if you lose signal. Open the game again and you go straight back into the same lobby. A match that has started carries on, so try to get back quickly.

One lobby at a time

You can be in one lobby at a time. Leave the one you are in before joining another. If the host leaves, the player who has been there longest becomes the new host, and the lobby carries on.

Ready to play

Learn the two halves of the game with the batting guide and the bowling guide, then get your friends together.

NPL Cricket League is still in development. Pre-register and we'll tell you when you can play.

NPL Cricket League is a game by Lacspace inspired by Nepal's T20 franchise cricket. Team names identify the franchises; crests, kits and players in the game are our own, and players are fictional. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or licensed by the Cricket Association of Nepal, the Nepal Premier League or its franchises.