So few hours back i got my copy and ran away from the every forum i was online on. As soon as i got a prompt fto download the teams. I selected yes and it took around 5 minutes for all 79 teams to download.Went to match practise to learn the basics of the bowling. After a good 10 minutes of training i jumped into a match which was interrupted by power cut.
Finally power came back and I started a T20 match between India All time XI vs Aussie All Time XI. After winning the toss i elected to bat first and went bang bang from the first ball as I've decided to check the gameplay. Thus it was no wonder that I was reduced to 30/6 in 4th over. Then i tried to put attention to ball and play accordingly. Thus got nice little partnership going between Kapil Deva and Kumble. Thus score reached 119 by the time i was allout. Kapil got out for 49 runs, not before he took Lillee to the cleaners. Scored 2 sixes and 2 fours before getting out on 5th.
I thought i had a fighting total. Srinath started the bowling and i had no idea how i bowled the first ball but the Aussie opener played it in the air towards cover where again i had no idea how i held on to the catch as later on i dropped as many as 4 catches. After that first ball, everything went downhill for next couple of overs as i tried to grasp bowling controls. After 5 or 6 overs i understood them and got it that i should have spent more time in practise mode. AI did not played as many sweep shots against me as they were reported. I guess its based on your line and length. I remember bowling just good length using spinners.
Pros:
1) Fine edges: You wont notices some of the edges of your own bat or oppositions bat. Thus you would have to be careful in using the reviews and while bowling just appeal for everything
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2) AI mentality does change with format. They were overly aggesive in 5 over matches, little less in 20 overs and were leaving some balls in ODIs. Havent tried test match yet.
3) Animations for diving catches are stunning. There are more than 2 or 3 different types of animations for diving catches.
4) Attention to detail: Start a practise match of a long tour and you would see it happening in a more or less empty ground. There would be lot of ambient noise of wind and birds. Appeals are different too.
5) Stats tracking galore.
6) AI sometimes goes for BARS against umpire.
7) Commentary might be minimal but it is apt and accurately depict the on field action.
Cons:
1) Batsman does not show any reaction when a ball hits him.
2) Players from the boundary hit the stumps 9 out of 10 times.
3) Sweeps are far too easy. When i realized this, i was using mainly sweep and reverse sweep for scoring runs.
4) Sometimes fielders put in spectacular efforts to stop the ball just before boundary only to waste it by touching the rope with legs while picking up the ball.
5) The sound of ball hitting the stump is a little too loud.
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