Great casual cricket

The gameplay is tough enough to keep you glued

It's the T20 season. First the World Cup, now IPL. And when you see your chosen team slog it out in the field, your hands are bound to itch for a grip on the willow. Whether you manage to actually knock around a ball or not, you can always grip your smartphone and take a few bowlers for a ride if you have the right app handy. Circle of Cricket is a good option. In fact, if you have a powerful enough phone, spare memory and the battery on your side, this is a great option.

The 108MB game can be downloaded for free from the Google Play Store, while its in-app purchases range between Rs 60 and Rs 300. The game offers a Twenty20 tournament mode, quick match mode and a one-day mode. Its focus however is on the T20 format, wherein lies its best experience.

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First, do not go hunting for a Cricket Captain experience. You don't find one here, and you don't need one. Keeping that in mind, the graphics are good. Players look quite similar to their real-world counterparts. The range of shots is varied enough to keep the runs coming. Bowlers, are a tad bit prone to no-balls, but once you get the hang of it, wickets aren't a problem. Overall detailing is pleasing.

The game, thankfully, lets you use swipe gestures to play the shots instead of complicated key combinations, making it easier to master. Drag longer for hits, and take small swipes for defence. However, the gameplay is challenging and tough enough to keep you glued for that hour-and-a-half-long Metro ride, and winning matches won't come easy.

You can also get your hands on unique cricketing manoeuvres like the dilscoop, helicopter shot, doosra and carrom ball, as in-game purchases. Stingy players, do not worry. You get a good experience even without splurging.

Casual gamers, this is what you have been waiting for. More serious gamers, please stick to your ICC Pro Cricket and Cricket Captain.