Ok, firstly to say that the patch has really made the game a massive step closer to where we ultimately want it to be - so massive kudos for that. The issue now is now that the gaping chasms have gone, the cracks are appearing.
I haven't played the patch much compared to others. I've bowled around 60 overs against the AI on hard mode, here are some random thoughts:
AI Batting
- Don't seem to play and miss enough - its either a leave, or a full blown forward defensive. There's no element of dangling the bat out there or going for a loose drive.
- Working balls from outside off stump - it feels asif I'm bowling against Kevin Pietersen all the time, alot of balls that are outside off stump (more evident when your bowling right arm over to a left hander) they walk across and hit it through mid-wicket. More offside shots through the v and wide of it. Simlarly with defensive shots, they always seem to get well across their stumps.
- Beating the fielders - AI rarely seems to hit the fielders when playing an aggresive ground stroke. Its either through the field or the shot just isn't played. Seems to happen alot when they're hitting square - not so much down the ground.
- Short balls - Alot of problems with these. Firstly, they play them far too easily (whether this could be rectified before the next game I don't know). But the ball doesn't seem to bounce enough from back of a length.
- Some odd lofted shots - For example, a backfoot straight six off a Steve Harmison short ball.
- On the subject of short balls - they don't seem to bounce enough. I've had batsman driving balls on the front foot that I would consider at the very least a short ball.
- Bowling with Swann. First day at cardiff and he was turning the ball an awful long way. Also, I got two batsmen out leaving straight delieveries - off cutters that I moved so that they wouldn't turn - rather than arm balls.
- Full balls, has anyone noticed that when you bowl a very full half volley (if such a term exists), on the replay the ball hits the ground and then bounces extremely sharply... :/
- Seems to pick everything, every alternate ball is played as if it knows its coming (I refuse to bowl the doosra with Swann), but every arm ball and top spinner is picked - and often whacked too.
- Few chabces. Only 1 edge to the slips, can only think of one play and miss (and that was a ghastly attempt to work a ball a foot wide of off stump through mid wicket). Not enough chances/plays and misses.
T20 AI Batting -
- Blocking in the first over the game...
- Seems to hit sixes off spinners far to easily, and in general straight (I mean dead straight) at will, mistimed shots seem at a premium.
- Bowling as Adil Rashid (Leg Spinner) around the wicket, left handers seemed to not be able to play a length delievery
- Batsmen leaving the ball - ok, I've seen Ponting leave his first ball before - but in the 14th over with a batsman 80 not out...
A few fleeting hits with the bat (haven't had much time on my hands).
- Ball is too easy to time.
- AI fielders still hit the stumps far too often,
- Non-strikers don't backup - this makes taking quick singles a near impossibility.
Problems with the game
- Field settings. Annoying on a lot of parts. Firstly, you cannot save fields, this needs to be introduced. Secondly, I'm not sure on this (It confused me all the way through the sixty overs) but it seemed that when I changed the field for a bowler at one end (lets say Swann, for the sake of arguments). When the seamer came on at the other end the field was the same (or atleast the same name, ie Balanced 10). I might be wrong on this, but it was annoying all the same.
- Bowlers coming on after a reload at the wrong end. Ok, this is quite picky, but when you reload a game the bowler has appeared to switch ends.
