How to play Crico
In short: Crico is a cricket strategy game for iPhone and Android. Two players each bring an XI of real cricketers. Every ball, the batting side secretly picks a batter and the bowling side secretly picks a bowler. The batter's batting power minus the bowler's bowling power decides the ball: a big gap is a boundary, a negative gap is a wicket. Each innings is 20 balls. Highest score wins.
The match, step by step
- Pick your XI. Choose 11 players from your collection of up to 20. Balance big hitters with bowlers who can defend.
- Toss. One player calls heads or tails. The winner chooses to bat or bowl first.
- First innings. 20 balls, 10 wickets. Each ball, both sides pick a player in secret, then the ball is played.
- Tactics. Use up to 4 power skills per innings, at least 4 balls apart, and play strategy cards at the right moment.
- Innings break, then the chase. The second side chases the target before the balls or wickets run out.
- Result and rewards. The winner earns credits, trophies and at least one new strategy card.
How scoring works: bat minus bowl
Every ball is decided by one rule. Take the batter's batting power and subtract the bowler's bowling power.
| Bat − Bowl | Result |
|---|---|
| 11 or more | Six |
| 6 to 10 | Four |
| 3 to 5 | Two runs |
| 1 to 2 | One run |
| 0 | Dot ball |
| Below 0 | Out |
Example: you send in a batter with 79 batting power. Your rival bowls someone with 66 bowling power. 79 − 66 = 13, so the ball goes for six. If they had picked an 85 bowler instead, 79 − 85 = −6, and your batter is out.
The resting rule
A player you just used sits out the next ball, so you can't lean on one star. You have to use your whole squad. A bowler can bowl at most 4 balls in an innings.
Player tiers and ratings
Every player has a batting power and a bowling power out of 100. All-rounders carry both. Ratings move with real T20 form: ▲ means a player is rising, ▼ means they are falling.
- Standard — the backbone of every squad.
- Riser — young talent on the way up.
- Pro — proven match-winners.
- Elite — the best in the world right now.
- Icon — legends of the game.
Power skills
Star players carry a power skill. When you use one, the ball is decided for you, whatever the ratings say. You can use 4 per innings, at least 4 balls apart. If both sides use one on the same ball, they cancel out. There are 30 in total, for example:
- Six skills (batting): Helicopter Shot, Pull Shot, 360 Shot, Six Machine, Power Surge, Big Hit, Match Winner, All-Round Blitz.
- Four skills (batting): Cover Drive, Straight Drive, Elegant Drive, Ramp Shot, Cut Shot, Reverse Scoop, Sweep Master, Switch Hit.
- Wicket skills (bowling): Yorker King, Swing Master, Mystery Spin, Chinaman, Outswing Trap, Reverse Swing, Swing Yorker, Swing All-Round, Left-Arm Trap.
- Dot skills (bowling): Bouncer Threat, Pace Aggression, Death Grip, Carrom Ball, Spin All-Round.
Strategy cards
Strategy cards are one-off tactics. Every win drops at least one card (Common 55%, Rare 30%, Epic 15%).
- Run Out (bowling) — instant wicket, and it beats a Free Hit too.
- Caught Out (bowling) — instant wicket on a scoring ball.
- No Ball + Free Hit (batting) — +1 run, and the next ball can't be a wicket.
- Wide (batting) — +1 free run, and the ball doesn't count.
The player market
Every cricketer has a price in credits. Prices go up and down every day with real match form. Buy players before they rise, sell them when the price is high, and use the credits to buy the next one. Your collection holds up to 20 players, and you can build as many XIs from it as you like, each with its own name and badge. Packs hold new players from Standard all the way up to Icon; duplicates turn into credits.
Rewards and progression
- Trophies: +15 to +50 per win (more for a bigger margin and wickets in hand), −10 per loss. Trophies decide your leaderboard rank.
- Daily streak: open the app every day. Bonus credits at day 7 (100), day 20 (250) and day 50 (500).
- Daily missions: for example play 5 matches, win 3 matches, or get a Big Win (by 50+ runs or 10 wickets) for a new player.
Ways to play
- Quick match: tap Play Now and you're matched with an opponent in seconds.
- Play a friend: create an invite, share the 6-character code, and your friend joins with their XI.
Tips to win more
- Think about what they will pick. Your rival picks in secret too. If they just used their best bowler, that bowler must rest next ball, so it's a good time to send in a lesser batter.
- Save your best batter for their weakest bowler. A gap of 11 or more is a six; you don't need your top player to get it.
- Plan for the resting rule. Alternate two strong players so one is always available.
- Keep power skills for big moments. They are 4 balls apart, so firing one early can leave you without one at the end of the chase.
- Watch the market. Buy players on a ▲ trend before their price climbs, and sell players on a ▼ trend before they fall further.
- Win big. A bigger margin earns more trophies, so keep scoring even when the result looks safe.
Quick answers
How long is a Crico match? A few minutes. Each side bats for 20 balls, with one decision per ball.
Is Crico free? Yes. Crico is free to play, and credits are earned by playing.
Where can I play Crico? On iPhone and Android. See download links.