I was too lazy/tired to write anything up after playing last night so I'll give some of my thoughts now. I've played a full ODI and bowled one session of a test match. Both on Pro Difficulty.
Batting first:
- It feels like there is a lot more variance in how the ball can come off the bat when going aerial. Pre-patch it was either time it well and it goes for a 100m six or time it badly and get caught in the infield. When batting as Matthew Hayden it even felt like I could just muscle the ball over the infield even when not timing the ball that well, which seemed pretty realistic. Lots more fours instead of just all sixes.
- AI fields at least look like they're
trying to do something reasonably intelligent and don't change every ball. However there doesn't appear to be any preset fields for the spinners to use in the powerplay, they default to everyone on the infield ring.
- AI bowls much better lines, less short-ball spam. Didn't see a single half tracker down leg for 5 wides.
- Playing off the back-foot feels like a much more viable option. However aggressive/aerial cut shots still go through cover or mid-off
. 
I would also say that other than the pull/hook, back-foot aerial shots still feel pretty weak in general.
Bowling:
-
NO MORE UGLY PROD SHOT!!! Special thanks to @WealeyH for making it a priority.
I really can't state enough how much better it makes the game look and feel without that horrible animation playing a couple of times every over.
- Nice variance of dismissals. Had caught behinds, a beautiful bowled, a couple of lbws already (and also a plumb one turned down, no reviews in my 2005 match type
)
- It felt like I could actually get on top of the batsmen and restrict their scoring. A lot of this is due to the prod-shot being gone I think, means I can actually set a field and bowl to it.
- AI tailenders don't turn into prime Afridi at the end of an innings any more.
- One negative would be still a few too many last-ball slogs, mostly during the powerplay.
- AI seems more aggressive at running, in ODIs at least.
- Finally you can add me to the list of people who don't like the new random seam movement on grassy pitches. I'll explain my issues with it:
1) The ball moves waaaay too much and too consistently (every single ball). It's basically the same as the old cutters except this time I can't just tweak a slider to tone it down, pretty annoying.
2) It takes away any feeling of control as a bowler. Why bother bowling an out-swinger outside off if it's just going to seam down leg?
3) It doesn't even appear to trouble the AI batsmen, they will play the huge-seaming ball as if they know exactly where it's heading anyway.
I understand this was added as a way to make batting on green seamers more challenging. Unfortunately IMO it makes bowling a headache, looks arcadey and well, just
bad if I'm honest.
That's all I can really think of just now given the limited time I've played. Definitely looking forward to playing some more ODIs and seeing how they pan out. (I'll probably steer clear of green wickets for now though
)
One final thanks to the beta team and devs. Definitely a lot of noticeable improvements! (still dead chuffed with prod shot being gone
)
