About the defensive shot conundrum:
Biggs, I can see your point. And Ross, you are fairly correct, too, in saying that making defensive shots easier will make it super-tempting, and therefore, frustrating.
But on the other hand, defensive shots, in real life, *are* easier to play. Assume defensive shots as a "way out" when you don't have anywhere to play. For instance, if you are playing a 50-over game and you suddenly get a peach of a delivery, it'll take far less to just smother it then to play a perfectly driven shot towards extra cover. The aggressive shot - in real life - requires a far more complex system than to just present a dead-faced bat.
But being neutral, I kind of like the defensive trigger because of the nudges we can get from it. I think, it'll be impossible to accommodate everyone, and it is perfect. However, a good idea is to offer customized control systems in the next patch maybe. So, if someone wants to change the way he plays the defensive shot, he should be able to play that. If someone doesn't want to (say, he is of a more attacking nature) he will make his attacking shots much easier to play.
And about the point that it will make way too easier to draw the game, I think the counter points can be that:
i. If someone wants to play for a draw, he is already made up his mind, which means, "premeditated shots" and "premeditated defensive shots".
ii. If someone keeps playing defensive shots because he doesn't want to lose his wicket, so be it. Because he isn't getting the rewards which he could have by playing aggressive shots. Ultimately, he and his team may lose (Misbah is a good example) :P ... In career mode, it can negatively impact his strike rate and his chances of being selected in better teams.
Conclusion: I think either multiple control presets (like FIFA) or more customizations options (more preferred) should be the way to move forward.