Viewers planning to use NOW
If NOW carries your match, you need a device that runs its app and supports the picture quality you intend to use. NOW lists device-specific requirements for Boost and Ultra Boost.
Who is this for?
Small-room TV upgraders
If your television has an available HDMI port, a streaming stick may add apps without another box on a shelf. Check the space around the port and where the device will get power.
Households with weak Wi-Fi near the TV
If the wireless signal is unreliable where you watch, a network cable may be useful. Apple specifies an Ethernet port on the Apple TV 4K Wi-Fi + Ethernet model, provided a cable can reach it.
What matters when choosing?
HDMI streaming stick
Consider it when: You have an available HDMI port and want the device tucked close to the TV.
Trade-off: Check Wi-Fi strength and the space and power available behind the screen.
Apple TV 4K box
Consider it when: A cable can reach the TV and you want the Ethernet connection on the Wi-Fi + Ethernet version.
Trade-off: The box needs a place to sit and mains power; Apple says the HDMI cable is sold separately.
Chromecast casting
Consider it when: You prefer starting playback from a compatible phone or tablet.
Trade-off: NOW's Chromecast setup requires the mobile device and Chromecast to use the same Wi-Fi network; quality support varies by model.
For cricket in a small living room, establish access to the intended match before deciding which picture and installation features matter to you.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Access to the match | Confirm the match's UK broadcaster, app support on the exact device and the membership needed. NOW says its Sports Day or Month Membership covers selected cricket tournaments. | If I have a particular match in mind, I need to know I can actually watch it on the device I choose. Around 31% of consumers put confirmed access to their match first. |
| Live-sport picture | Check NOW's quality listing for the exact model and your TV. NOW specifies at least 12Mbps per streaming device for Boost or 30Mbps for Ultra Boost. | When fast-moving play matters to me, I want to check the live-stream quality my whole setup can deliver. Roughly 25% of consumers place picture and motion quality first. |
| Fit and connectivity | Check HDMI clearance, power and Wi-Fi at the TV; if a cable can reach it, consider whether an Ethernet-equipped box suits the space. | I want to keep the TV area uncluttered, but a weak wireless signal would make a hidden stick less appealing. About 25% of consumers prioritise fitting the device into a dependable small-room setup. |
| Features you will use | Match the device and any optional picture-quality feature to your television and viewing plans; an HD TV cannot display a 4K or HDR picture. | If I watch only occasional matches on an HD TV, I would rather choose the app support I need than focus on unused picture features. Around 19% of consumers put avoiding unused features first. |
What should you check before buying?
-
Assuming a device includes access to cricket
A streamer supplies the playback hardware, not the rights to a match. NOW says its Sports Day or Month Membership covers selected cricket tournaments, but coverage depends on the event.
Identify the match and its UK broadcaster before choosing the device or membership.
-
Assuming 4K hardware means a 4K live stream
The device, content, membership, television and connection all affect the quality you can use. Roku notes that its Streaming Stick 4K works with an HDMI TV even if that TV cannot display 4K or HDR.
Check NOW's listing for your exact device and the live content you want, alongside the TV's HDMI compatibility and your connection speed.
-
Hiding a stick where Wi-Fi is weak
A neat installation does not resolve an unreliable wireless connection at the television.
Check the signal at the TV. If it is weak and a cable can reach the viewing area, compare an Ethernet-equipped option such as Apple TV 4K Wi-Fi + Ethernet.
-
Overlooking the live-TV licence
TV Licensing says a TV Licence covers live TV watched through streaming services as well as television channels.
Before streaming live cricket in the UK, check that your household is covered by a TV Licence.
Brands to consider for this setup
Roku
Roku's Streaming Stick 4K model 3820 is a compact HDMI option. NOW lists that specific model for Boost and Ultra Boost features.
- Roku says model 3820 supports HD, 4K and HDR output; it can also work with an HDMI TV that does not display 4K or HDR.
- It needs an available HDMI port, power and a suitable network connection. Check the model number before applying NOW's listing to another Roku stick.
Amazon Fire TV
Amazon Fire TV offers HDMI sticks with the NOW app. NOW lists particular Fire TV Stick 4K and 4K Max generations for Boost and selected Ultra Boost features.
- A supported stick offers another compact route to NOW on an HDMI television.
- NOW's device table limits 4K UHD on the listed Fire TV Stick 4K and 4K Max generations to on-demand content; do not assume a live cricket stream will be 4K.
Apple
Apple TV is a box option. NOW supports its app on Apple TV HD, 4th generation, and Apple TV 4K, with Ultra Boost features listed for the 2nd- and 3rd-generation Apple TV 4K.
- Apple specifies Gigabit Ethernet on the Apple TV 4K Wi-Fi + Ethernet configuration.
- The Wi-Fi-only configuration has no Ethernet port. The box needs mains power, and Apple says its HDMI cable is sold separately.
Joybuy streaming sticks
These Roku sticks are options to consider where a stick format suits your small-room TV setup. Confirm each exact model's support for the app carrying your match before choosing it for cricket; NOW's listing for Roku model 3820 does not establish support for either product below.
No image available
Roku Streaming Stick 4K
Consider this 4K streaming stick for a TV setup where you want the device close to the screen. Before relying on it for cricket through NOW, confirm the exact model number, app support and applicable live-stream quality.
No image available
Roku Streaming Stick 4KPlus
Consider this 4KPlus stick if you prefer a stick-format device to a separate box. Check its exact model against the service carrying your match, and confirm the TV connection, power requirements and NOW quality support you need.
Common questions
Do I need a NOW Sports membership to watch cricket?
For selected cricket tournaments carried by NOW, you need a Sports Day or Month Membership. Check the broadcaster for your particular match before subscribing, because coverage varies by event.
Will a 4K streaming stick show live cricket in 4K?
Not automatically. NOW's available quality depends on the live content, exact device, membership, compatible TV and connection; its stated minimum speed is 12Mbps per device for Boost and 30Mbps for Ultra Boost. Check the device-specific listing rather than relying on the stick's 4K label.
What does a stick need behind the TV?
Check for an available HDMI port, room around it, power and usable Wi-Fi. Roku says its Streaming Stick 4K works with HDMI TVs; if adjacent connections leave little room, check whether an HDMI extender is suitable for the model you choose.
Would Ethernet help with cricket streaming?
An Ethernet-equipped device is worth considering if Wi-Fi is unreliable at the TV and you can run a network cable there. Apple specifies Gigabit Ethernet on the Apple TV 4K Wi-Fi + Ethernet model, but a wired connection does not by itself guarantee a particular stream quality.
Do I need a TV Licence for live cricket in the UK?
You need to be covered by a TV Licence when watching live TV through a streaming service in the UK, according to TV Licensing. A streaming device or sports membership does not replace that requirement.