5 day matches

[TerryAlderman]

Since getting the game I have only played limited overs games...usually 50 overs. Have had more good matches than bad. Have even tried re skilling two 'testing' teams in an effort to improve the gaming experience. So....today....with the Ashes series around the corner....I decided to try an England v Australia test match. Dunno if I'm playing with the original teams that were put on the disk on game release or teams that I have attempted to download from the fan hub. I reckon the latter as Collingwood is in the England team!! Anyway....it's the best cricket gaming experience I've had in ages. Currently playing as England....tea on day one and Australia are all out for 199. Wicket breakdown is 8 catches, one lbw and one bowled. The bowled was Mitchell Johnson playing a delivery that was missing leg stump by some margin....came off his pad and onto stumps. I'm loving it.....maybe 5 dayers are the matches to play.

 

[blockerdave]

If you get skills/attributes right, all formats in this game are fun. I usually play first class or tests but played a t20 earlier and loved it

 

[kamyFC]

I started playing First Class Matches at last, after playing a 9 team T20 club team league for about a month and a half.
All in PRO mode.
I'm playing a 9 team 4 Day league. And you play home and away.
As i only play on weekends, So i can expect this league to go upto 6 months!

First test - Lahore Lions vs Pune Warriors (my team) (I prefer playing Club teams. I retooled their kit with modern whites!)
Grassy + Worn Pitch, Light Cracks.

Lahore won the toss and put me into bat first.
I scored 310 / 6 after 2 sessions of play.

Here are the differences i have observed when it comes to the longer format of the game

• Its very difficult to score in the first session of first day
• You need your openers to build your confidence to a decent level before playing shots
• New batsmen too will have to build confidence
• I lost few wickets mostly due to lack of concentration and playing stupid shots.
• Once Clarke and Yuvraj Singh were set and the confidence bar was super high, i was milking the bowlers.
• Clarke - 87 ; Yuvraj - 175 Not Out - 80% of the shots i played were on the ground and 20% were lofted shots in gaps. Jus like real Tests.
• Steve Smith got out by a Wahab Riaz ripper of a delivery. Wahab bowled a normal ball and Steve was not settled yet and was new to the crease,
  played a defensive shot. But the ball swung, bounced and hit the edge and was caught in 4th slip.
  That was a WTF moment!!! I never thought i would get unplayable deliveries! clap
  
• AI just used 4 bowlers but it was a slog for them. The only variety the AI does is Going around the wicket.
  Havent seen barrage of short pitch bowling - by 2 quickies, to get tested or other consistent strategies.
• AI only deserved 2 wickets , IMO out of the 6. Rest 4 were human fatigue/mistakes.
  But that Wahab Riaz ripper was something else!

I'm tired after playing 2 sessions. My wrists are sore!
But boy the longer format of the game is so satisfying.

Will report my findings more here.

Would love to listen about other people's Test match / 4 day game experiences.
Which mode gives you the best TEST match experience? PRO / LEGEND / Veteran?
Does bowling get boring? I personally enjoy trying different balls and i like managing my bowlers.
I did notice decent out and inswing on grassy pitches. Does Swing, Spin vary based on pitches?
Does the game surprise you sometimes?

 

[Westindies]

I played Ashes 10 days back(not with the latest version, just wanted to share), i am Aus , AI - Eng, 1st test match lost by a distance, 2nd test match i wanted to make that count, i bowled completely and got a lead of 83 and batted again by simulating few overs and scored 417. ENG was set 500 to win. Having taken 10 wickets in the first innings on my own i declared on 3rd day 2nd session and wanted to bundle ENG out below 200. But that didnt happen , AI kept scoring freely. First wicket was by 169. I was tired nut wanted to try there were some epic moments and dismissals. They came really close 380/6 . I some how managed and won the game by 87 runs. it was a beauty of a test match.

 

[kamyFC]

I played Ashes 10 days back(not with the latest version, just wanted to share), i am Aus , AI - Eng, 1st test match lost by a distance, 2nd test match i wanted to make that count, i bowled completely and got a lead of 83 and batted again by simulating few overs and scored 417. ENG was set 500 to win. Having taken 10 wickets in the first innings on my own i declared on 3rd day 2nd session and wanted to bundle ENG out below 200. But that didnt happen , AI kept scoring freely. First wicket was by 169. I was tired nut wanted to try there were some epic moments and dismissals. They came really close 380/6 . I some how managed and won the game by 87 runs. it was a beauty of a test match.

That was awesome game. 500 is an impossible target!

I'm in a similar scenario here. 2 days gone. I have a lead of 161 runs. I want to declare in 2nd session on 3rd day with lead of 300+
I think i should win.

But then the AI might up its game in the 2nd innings like it did in our game.

 

[Westindies]

Never underestimate ur opposition lol!!! i played it on legend mode, which mode u are playing in? i would suggest to take lead upto 500 and declare

 

[kamyFC]

I rotate all my bowlers

Never underestimate ur opposition lol!!! i played it on legend mode, which mode u are playing in? i would suggest to take lead upto 500 and declare

Am on PRO!! Thanks for the suggestion!
I understand as suddenly the AI starts playing well. See below.

Regarding Bowling - i managed to get 8 wickets for around 88! AI batting is really ridiculous on PRO.
They manage atleast 1-2 stupid run outs per innings. They hit the ball straight to the mid on or mid off / cover, run and get run out.

But then the Lahore Lions's tail started waging. 8th wicket put a 100+ run partnership.

I tried everything. 3 medium pacers rotating, inswing outswing, varying length, bowling short pitch balls for overs at a stretch!
But the tail was very cautious.

My spinners (2 leg spinners - Rahul Sharma and Ajanta Mendis) - too could not get the tail.

Its the kind of desparation that teams really feel in test matches i guess. I was just ready to throw my hands in the air!
90 overs! Take new ball and finally Wayne Parnell gets 2 quick wickets. All out for 239. Phew!

A real Test allright!

And wait! After all that nonsense 'cant get the tail out' sessions, i have to bat for 30 mins.
I just held on in fading light. Time for a rest!

 

[Markkkkk]

Do you guys use the reduced skills? If not you should give it a try...

 

[kamyFC]

Do you guys use the reduced skills? If not you should give it a try...

i,m confused about that. Do i go to this thread first page and download the teams mentioned as per the username?
Complete Linked / Skilled/Attributed teams **DOWNLOAD STEPS INCLUDED** - check 1st post for list - Don Bradman Cricket 14 Forum on PlanetCricket Forums

If downloading the teams mentioned in that list will improve test match gameplay, i'm willing to try.

Or is there any other way?
Also I also prefer Domestic Club teams.

oh! by the way, i did download SunFire (flower?) Dolphins the S.A domestic team from the user 'funkyyellowpand' - As i read somewhere that someone updated teams by that user,

So when i play the Dolhphins (they are listed in my current league tournament) , will i encounter somewhat different gameplay?

 

[Markkkkk]

Yea those under FunkyYellowpand are under different skills but the domestic teams arent, go to the thread Making bowling more enjoyable... Or download some of blockerdaves teams (he says in that thread which are updated) or just download the international teams from FunkyYellowPand and see if you enjoy the gameplay and if you do you can edit your teams as Making bowling more enjoyable... Skills layout on the first post.

The thread you mentioned just has reliable people to download from and those teams wont necessarily have the reduced skills...

 

[kamyFC]

Yea those under FunkyYellowpand are under different skills but the domestic teams arent, go to the thread Making bowling more enjoyable... Or download some of blockerdaves teams (he says in that thread which are updated) or just download the international teams from FunkyYellowPand and see if you enjoy the gameplay and if you do you can edit your teams as Making bowling more enjoyable... Skills layout on the first post.

Thanks Markkkk. I checked the 'Making bowling more enjoyable' thread and people have definitely seen improvements.
I dont think i will need to test as i can vouch for you guys.

So i will download 'SouthAfrica -CG' from the user 'FunkyYellowpand' (is that u?) and will edit the skills to my club teams and then start a new league!

Thank you! I think u saved me from lots of frustration, 'with this cannot get the tail out', AI getting run out, or lobbing catches to Mid On and other issues

Let me keep u posted.

 

[Markkkkk]

Thanks Markkkk. I checked the 'Making bowling more enjoyable' thread and people have definitely seen improvements.
I dont think i will need to test as i can vouch for you guys.

So i will download 'SouthAfrica -CG' from the user 'FunkyYellowpand' (is that u?) and will edit the skills to my club teams and then start a new league!

Thank you! I think u saved me from lots of frustration, 'with this cannot get the tail out', AI getting run out, or lobbing catches to Mid On etc

Let me keep u posted.

No problem. If you can wait 10-15 minutes im currently uploading the South African domestic teams with these skills so that could make your life easier...

 

[kamyFC]

No problem. If you can wait 10-15 minutes im currently uploading the South African domestic teams with these skills so that could make your life easier...

Hey that would be awesome!

R u uploading The Sunfoil Dolphins - with the edited skills?

I'm waiting! Do keep us posted!

 

[Markkkkk]

Okay they are all uploaded and yes the Dolphins are included.

 

[kamyFC]

Hey that is awesome!!!!!

Downloading now.

Just a question in the other thread they say set a batsman to 10 increments.
There are total 22 bars for each skill (frontfoot/backfoot)

So 10 increments is 10 bars out of 22
5 increments is 5 bars out of 22

Is that right?