I've been playing through some test matches and finding each innings all a bit the same, almost like each wicket is pre-determined. I feel like I can play each ball with ease, with timing not meaning much, never under any real pressure and then occasionally I will have a ball that I edge to the keeper. I think it would be a lot more interesting if there was a bit more variation.
I think that timing could be made much more important with early and late timing having a larger range of outcomes that at the same time would provide feedback on the timing of each shot even with the shot feedback on the HUD turned off. I was thinking something like this could work well and make each innings feel a bit more alive.
Early timing
-play and miss, opportunity for lbw or bowled
-hit in air, chance to be caught on circle
-hit in air, hit through gap in field
-hit in air, falls short of fielder on circle
-bat pad playing defensive against spinners
Late timing
-play and miss, opportunity for lbw or bowled
-inside edge to square leg/onto pads
-edge to keeper
-edge to slips
-edge drops short of slips
-edge through gap in slips to third man
There are many other outcomes you could add but the aim of this would simply be to make batting more variable, which at the moment I don't feel is. It could also be applied to the ai batting so bowling feels more involved rather than just bowling ball after ball waiting for a wicket to come.