Got the game this morning for pc, had a few practice odi games and then jumped into an ashes series on Hard in Australia.
just a little about me first - i have played every cricket game since Cricket 97, and have been a member of pc for many years although i rarely post but thought i would post my early impressions of the game to help a few of the guys who havent got the game yet or pre ordered it - as there doesent seem to be many giving pc impressions/reviews yet.
1st test - Sydney
-Aus won the toss and elected to field
-morning weather :-cloudy - 26 degrees, Hard pitch
Johnson opened the bowling for Aus and immeadiately bowled two half volleys on the legs of Strauss which were both despatched for four square on the legside. got a few edges that didnt carry early on so thought it was impossible to get out edged so carried on playing my shots (which would be something i would come to regret later!) soon enough i raced to 30/0 in 5 overs with mainly leg side flicks and a couple of square cuts on the back foot from Johnson's loose bowling (which i have to say was very realistic if they meant to implement this its genius!)
at this point i was thinking here we go again - another cricket game that is simply too easy! But the very next over the a.i to my delight and surprise put a fielder on the leg flick for strauss and a deep point so the runs dried up a bit after this smart move from the a.i. Then next over i attempted a cover drive with cook which caught a nice thick edge to second slip and was gone!! 31/1
a few overs later after steady batting...............
53/1 - 10 overs
cook 8 (16) caught second slip
bell 16*(12) great start smashing johnsons loose bowling to the fence
At this stage i was still overconfident from the high boundary rate of the morning session and was still trying to hit most balls rather than block, and then i took a tight single to short mid wicket fielder who hit the stumps with a rocket of a direct hit - and strauss was gone after consulting the 3rd umpire a very tight one! 58/2!
Still playing shots i got pieterson off the mark with a clip off the pads for two, but just like the man himself i tried the aggressive approach to johnsons loose bowling again which took a thick edge straight to gully like a rocket!! 65/3 from 15 overs Pietersen gone! - but bell still picking up a few boundries with some nice pull/cut shots
By now my batting had calmed down a bit and was a bit defensive as i was nervous at how easy it is to get out if you flash at the wide balls (pieterson) or try to smash good length balls through the covers for four like cook did! i managed to nudge it around a bit upto 85/3 and fancied attempting a cut shot off another Johnson shortish length ball -but i was kicking myself as it wasnt quite timed and it was an edgy one straight down gullys throat!! 85/4.
Bell was batting well though he had raced to 50* from just 43 balls mostly from the loose johnson bowling with some cracking pull shots off the short ones, but the a.i once again made a smart play by bringing in a short leg and covering the legside fence, very next over Johnson had his man, another short one at the ribs which bell tried to tickle down off his hips for 1 wasnt timed and he was snapped up by the short leg man!!
94/5 20 overs
Bell 50(48) caught short leg
by now i was really starting to understand that you have to concentrate and play solid on this game, i got a bit carried away early on when the field was in and the boundries were flowing - but you will not get away with flashing away constantly sooner or later you will edge one or mistime one to the infield, you have to pick the deliveries to despatch.
after another period of conslidation Broad tried a cover drive off siddle on the last ball before lunch which was edged straight to second slip!
125/6 Lunch 30 overs
After Lunch i played aggresively with Prior and tried containing with Swann and the rest of the tail, North came on a bit later and clean bowled Swann after i tried to smash him for six in pure frustration!! very next ball sidebottom edged one to the keeper off North and i was 150/8, after another period of nudging it around Anderson attempted another expansive drive to north which went straight to cover, and soon after Prior who was now batting aggresively with Harmisson at the the other end, creamed a cut shot only to find Gully and the innings was over
183 All out 41.2 overs
Bell 50(48)
Prior 40(64)
Anderson 20(36)
Siddle 3/24 14 ovs
Johnson 2/76 12 ovs
North 3/34 6.2 ovs
Watson 1/27 9 ovs
Really enjoying the game, lots of good random things happening and the a.i seems to think a bit more than other games, and its a good challange on hard and you need to concentrate and try not and fish at everything, the defensive button should definately be used to respect the good balls. maybe report back on the bowling a bit later, but early impressions of batting and a.i and the gameplay in general - its definately a lot more playable than any other cricket game ive played and i think if the game as as open for editing as cricket07 was and we have a strong community behind the game then this could be an absolute gem of a game - im thinking player editor for bowling speeds and players et.. and graphic patches
but at the monent id give this game 7.5/10
I guess the only real hassle is having to edit the non-licenced players and we have no faces near their actual real life counterparts ie: Vettori without glasses :doh I think we need a virtual "Specsavers" 
