How to play an online cricket game with friends

Three things, and none of them takes long.

• An account. Sign in with your email address. We send a one-time 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 the lobby and the match both need the internet. Practice mode works without it.

Tap Play online on the home screen. You can Quick join the fullest open lobby that still has room, Create lobby, Browse open lobbies and lobbies hosted by your friends, or Join with code.

When you create a lobby you choose three things: the format, a 2-over Blitz or a 5-over Quick match (explained on our short cricket game page); the team size, anything from 1 v 1 up to 11 v 11; and 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.

Every lobby has a six-character code 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 quicker still: tap Invite and pick them, and the invitation pops up on their screen. To add a friend, open the Friends panel from the home screen and send a request by username, or add a player you have just met in the lobby. As host you can change the settings until the match starts, and lock the lobby once everyone you want is in.

The lobby has two sides, Side A and Side B, with every player standing on the stage. 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, and a captain can hand it on.

When you are set, tap Ready. The host's Start button lights up once every player is ready and each side has at least one player. Then the captains take over: one calls the toss, the winner chooses to bat or bowl, each captain sets the batting order, and the fielding captain picks the bowler before every over.

Send one-tap chat lines like "Nice shot" or a short typed message, play a recorded voice call such as "Catch it!" or "Howzat!" for everyone, or make your player clap, salute or dance on the stage. If someone is unpleasant, tap their name to mute, report or block them. If your signal drops, your place is held so you can come straight back.