Cricket 26 - The Official Game of the Ashes is the newest entry in Big Ant Studios’ long-running cricket sim and the publisher’s most polished work to date. The strategic depth, dynamic pitch, and Ashes mode pull dedicated fans in, but the steep learning curve and the niche of cricket gaming on PC means it’s worth knowing the field of alternatives. We spent weeks across Big Ant’s catalog and the Childish Things management series to land the seven Cricket 26 alternatives for desktop that we recommend in 2026.
We weighted three things: depth of cricket modeling, modding or career longevity, and whether the game still has a community keeping it alive. The genre is small enough that nearly every alternative ends up being a Big Ant title or a management sim from Childish Things, and that’s an honest reflection of the PC cricket market.
Quick comparison
| Game | Best for | Cost | Where to buy | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cricket 24 | Most recent Big Ant cricket | $49.99 | Steam | Polished gameplay across formats |
| Cricket 22 | Established Ashes title | $39.99 | Steam | Mature mod community |
| Ashes Cricket | Original Ashes-themed entry | $34.99 | Steam | Solid foundation, older but cheaper |
| Don Bradman Cricket 17 | Classic Big Ant title | $29.99 | Steam | Deep career mode |
| Cricket 19 | Career-focused entry | $34.99 | Steam | Refined batting controls |
| Cricket Captain 2025 | Management sim | $19.99 | Steam | Pure cricket management |
| Cricket Captain 2024 | Older Cricket Captain | $14.99 | Steam | Stable veteran management sim |
Why people leave Cricket 26 on PC
Threads on r/Cricket and the Big Ant forums circle the same complaints:
Batting controls take real practice
The dual-stick batting system rewards muscle memory, and the first 10 hours often feel like wrestling with a system that doesn’t reward casual play. Players bouncing between formats find themselves losing wickets to deliveries they thought they could play.
Fielding AI still has rough edges
Catch animations are improved, but inside-edges, deflections, and unusual angles still produce inconsistent AI responses. The complaint repeats across patches with reduced but persistent severity.
Player face quality is hit or miss
Some licensed players look great, others look generic. The custom-create tools work but the disparity between teams is jarring during broadcasts.
Niche pricing in a small genre
At $59.99, Cricket 26 sits at premium pricing for what’s still a niche category on PC. Players who can’t justify that price look hard at the older Big Ant entries.
The alternatives
Cricket 24 — Best most recent Big Ant cricket
Cricket 24 is the prior Big Ant entry and the natural step down from Cricket 26 if pricing is the issue. It still has refined gameplay, full official Test team licensing, and a mature mod community that fills in any rosters Big Ant didn’t license. Patches landed regularly through 2024 and the player base remains active enough for online matches to find on weekends.
For new players who want a complete cricket sim without the Cricket 26 premium, this is the obvious entry point.
Where it falls short: No Ashes 2025/2026 licensing. UI improvements in Cricket 26 aren’t here. Cricket 26 has clear gameplay edge in fielding and pitch behavior.
Pricing:
- $49.99 base game; routine sales to $20
- vs Cricket 26: A generation older, frequently a fifth the price on sale.
Switching from Cricket 26: Most controls carry. Career mode is similar. Visuals are a half-step behind.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick Cricket 24 if you want the Big Ant experience at a saner price. Skip if the Ashes mode or pitch refinements in Cricket 26 are the draw.
Cricket 22 — Best for the mature mod community
Cricket 22 is where Big Ant locked in the modern Ashes formula, and four years of community work has produced one of the deepest mod libraries for any cricket game on PC. Roster updates from custom communities keep teams current well past the official licensing window. The base game is also cheaper than the newer entries.
The downside is that Big Ant’s attention has clearly moved to Cricket 24 and 26. New official patches are rare and known bugs are unlikely to get attention.
Where it falls short: Older fielding AI and animation quality. Limited official updates. The visual gap to Cricket 26 is noticeable.
Pricing:
- $39.99 base game; sales to $12
- vs Cricket 26: Cheaper, deeper mod scene, older gameplay.
Switching from Cricket 26: Many controls carry over. Career mode flows similarly. Lower visual fidelity is the main adjustment.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick Cricket 22 for the broadest mod community in cricket gaming. Skip if you want active developer support.
Ashes Cricket — Best for the original Ashes-themed Big Ant title
Ashes Cricket is the 2017 entry that established Big Ant’s Ashes branding. It’s a simpler game than the Cricket 22+ era, which makes it more approachable for new players. The career mode is light, the gameplay loop is straightforward, and the price has dropped to a level where it’s the easiest entry into the franchise.
For fans who liked the simplicity of older cricket games before the dual-stick complexity, this is the closest to that era.
Where it falls short: Limited mode depth. Dated UI and visuals. No serious modern modding community.
Pricing:
- $34.99 base game; routinely on sale for $7-$10
- vs Cricket 26: Much simpler, much cheaper, no recent updates.
Switching from Cricket 26: Simpler controls. Less depth in career mode. Closer to arcade than sim.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick Ashes Cricket for an affordable entry into Big Ant’s catalog. Skip if you want the depth of modern Big Ant titles.
Don Bradman Cricket 17 — Best for the classic Big Ant career mode
Don Bradman Cricket 17 is the title that built Big Ant’s reputation in cricket sims. The career mode is widely regarded as one of the best in the genre, with detailed progression, ground-level realism, and a slower pace that rewards patient batting. The community kept it alive years past official support through mods.
It’s an old game in 2026, and the visual gap to Cricket 26 is large. But for career-mode purists, it’s still a strong recommendation.
Where it falls short: Visuals show their age. No modern patches. Online multiplayer is mostly dead.
Pricing:
- $29.99 base game; sales to $5
- vs Cricket 26: A tenth of the price during sales for narrower scope and older visuals.
Switching from Cricket 26: Slower-paced career mode is the strength. Controls are simpler.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick Don Bradman Cricket 17 for the classic Big Ant career feel at a low price. Skip if visuals or modern fielding matter.
Cricket 19 — Best for refined batting
Cricket 19 sits between Don Bradman 17 and Cricket 22 in the Big Ant timeline. The batting controls were refined into the shape that later games would build on, the career mode picked up depth, and the multiplayer scene held steady longer than usual.
It’s overshadowed now by the newer entries, but it’s a legitimate pick for players who want a cleaner middle ground between classic and modern Big Ant cricket.
Where it falls short: Older fielding AI. Limited modern modding. Career mode is good but shorter than Cricket 22 or 24.
Pricing:
- $34.99 base game; sales to $7
- vs Cricket 26: Older and cheaper. Polished but generations behind on visuals.
Switching from Cricket 26: Batting feels familiar. Career mode is similar in shape.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick Cricket 19 for a refined middle-era Big Ant title at a low price. Skip if you want the polish of Cricket 22, 24, or 26.
Cricket Captain 2025 — Best for pure management sim
Cricket Captain 2025 is the current entry in Childish Things’ long-running management series. There’s no batting, no bowling, no on-field action. You manage a club through seasons of selections, training, and tactical decisions. The cricket happens in text and statistics, and that’s the entire appeal.
For fans who like Football Manager’s text-based depth, Cricket Captain is the direct cricket equivalent. Long-term saves run for decades of in-game time and the community is dedicated.
Where it falls short: No gameplay in the traditional sense. Visual presentation is minimal. Niche even within cricket gaming.
Pricing:
- $19.99 base game; sales to $10
- vs Cricket 26: Cheaper, very different in scope.
Switching from Cricket 26: No on-field play. Management depth replaces controller skill entirely.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick Cricket Captain 2025 if you want pure cricket management. Skip if playing matches yourself was the point.
Cricket Captain 2024 — Best for established Cricket Captain players
Cricket Captain 2024 is the previous entry in the same management series, and it’s been stable enough that long-term players still use it. The yearly upgrades from Childish Things are incremental, so the older title at half the price is a reasonable pick for new players who want to test the management formula.
The differences vs. 2025 are roster updates, minor tactical tweaks, and slight UI polish. Nothing transformative.
Where it falls short: Outdated rosters compared to 2025. Same lack of on-field gameplay. Niche audience.
Pricing:
- $14.99 base game; sales to $5
- vs Cricket 26: Much cheaper, no on-field play.
Switching from Cricket 26: Identical management focus as Cricket Captain 2025. Lower price for similar depth.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick Cricket Captain 2024 for the management sim at the lowest entry price. Skip if you’d rather have the latest rosters.
How to choose
If you want a full Big Ant cricket sim and the Cricket 26 price is the issue, Cricket 24 is the strongest direct downgrade and Cricket 22 is the modding-friendly option. Cricket 19 and Don Bradman Cricket 17 are deep-budget picks for career-mode fans willing to accept older visuals.
If you want management depth instead of on-field play, Cricket Captain 2025 is the current pick and Cricket Captain 2024 is the budget version.
Ashes Cricket sits in the middle as a simplified, affordable entry into the Big Ant catalog if you don’t want the complexity of newer titles.
Stay on Cricket 26 if you specifically want the 2025/2026 Ashes licensing, the new pitch behavior, and Big Ant’s most current gameplay feedback. The depth in batting, fielding, and the Ashes presentation is the most refined in the series.
FAQ
What is the cheapest Cricket 26 alternative? Don Bradman Cricket 17 and Cricket Captain 2024 routinely drop to $5 on sale. Don Bradman is the cheaper on-field experience, Cricket Captain 2024 is the cheaper management option.
Are there free cricket games on PC? Not credible ones in 2026. The genre’s audience is too small to support free-to-play models on PC at this point.
Which Big Ant cricket game has the best mod scene? Cricket 22 has the largest active mod community and the most roster updates. Cricket 24 is catching up but the volume isn’t there yet.
Can I play any of these in online multiplayer? Cricket 24 and Cricket 22 still have active online communities. Cricket 19 and Ashes Cricket have thinner populations. Cricket Captain games are single-player.
Is Cricket Captain a better experience than the action Big Ant titles? It’s a different kind of game. Cricket Captain is text-based management; Big Ant titles are controller-based on-field play. They satisfy different cravings.
Will Cricket 26 get long-term mod support like Cricket 22 did? The community signals are positive but it takes 12-18 months for serious mod communities to mature. Cricket 22’s lead remains substantial.
