Evolution / Revolution
Long post warning!
This thread might be premature, but its an exciting distraction to think of the kind of changes that will take the game further in the right direction. Agree with most of what's already been posted.
In addition to all that's been said, my one major "evolutionary" change recommendation is to improve running between the wickets further. Suggestion - link fatigue levels to running speed as well as to the ability to (or at least the effectiveness of) dive. Currently, fatigue levels seem not to make much (if any) difference to how I approach running between the wickets. Managing the balance between the tiring legs of a centurion on one end and the eager fresh legs of a new batsman on the other might introduce an interesting dynamic currently missing from the game.
My two major recommendations though are too much of a departure from the existing control system and game design, however I still believe these could potentially be massive improvements so taking the liberty of sharing my thoughts.
A fresh approach to batting controls. I think the underlying "choose-direction-time-button-press" principle of cricket games past and present needs to be re-looked. EA tried something new with "Century Stick" but failed massively - not because the new control scheme was flawed, more so because it was incompletely implemented. Look at Tiger Woods PGA 10 for a brilliant example of intuitive, accessible and innovative swing controls (right analog stick controls the club completely - pull back to line up your swing, push forward to follow-through. Pull back 50% for half the power of your full swing etc.). Being a cricketer at heart, the first thought that crossed my mind when I first played TW PGA 10 was how amazing it would be to have complete swing control of the bat.
Imagine the possibilities this opens up. Back-lift; shot-direction; open/close face; playing in the V; ability to change your shot at the last minute by not following-through on the swing.
Brook mentioned foot movement in an earlier post; and I wonder if left analog for moving your feet and right analog for total swing control would make for a better, more complete batting control mechanism. Given EA's Century Stick disaster, its probably difficult for anyone who hasn't played TW PGA 10 to appreciate how well this can work.
Who needs the bowling cursor?. I honestly believe Cricket games will always favor the batsman till such time as the batsman knows in advance where the ball is going to pitch. It is this underlying "issue" that makes it relatively easy to be good at batting. This is also what causes the debate on whether it is or is not fair game to move the bowling cursor around manically before delivering the ball. Having the pitch marker / bowling cursor visible to the batsman is like playing a game of tennis with on-screen arrows showing which direction you're thinking of hitting your next shot.
That said, given the current batting controls I think it would be near impossible to bat without having the bowling cursor visible. However, if the batting controls were themselves addressed so as to allow the batsman just enough time to judge the line, length and speed of the delivery and choose the appropriate shot - not having a pitch marker would no longer be an issue.
Not sure if I've explained my thoughts clearly here, but I really believe having the bowling cursor displayed takes almost everything away from the bowler. An interpretation of Cricket in which the batsman knows where the bowler is going to bowl before the delivery is released, is fundamentally flawed IMHO.
These two issues, to me, are central to having a gameplay experience as close to Cricket as possible. What I've described above is obviously a back of a paper napkin exercise and am confident there are glaring issues with both suggestions that I have overlooked. I simply mean to share my thoughts on two big game design issues that I hope the designers will take into account in the next, or the next iteration - whatever be the solutions they choose to implement.
Cheers.
