Cricket 2005 for Windows

1/7

A unique feature of Cricket 2021 is that, the software is able to detect and replicate the most difficult strokes of the bowling ball. This means that batting mistakes are less likely to be replicated, as well as helping to ensure that a lower percentage of overs will end up as hits, reducing the number of unspoilt overs. Each individual bowler in the match has an icon which appears on the screen after each bowler's action - it becomes red when the bowler is out and yellow when he is on. If you select the icon correct, the software will give you the information that you need, but if you make any other selections, it will fail to detect your action. It is extremely frustrating to play a perfect game only to have your over/under result displayed as incorrect, simply because you picked something else! The software is able to pick out very subtle variations in the action, however, so it is often able to pick out the small differences enough for you to be successful.

One of the most useful features of the software is its "bowling stats" tool - by using this, you can actually determine the average distance covered by each of the four bowlers during an over or under. Using this will highlight the differences between players, helping you to identify strengths and weaknesses and therefore improve your batting and bowling stats. The batting stats also reveal exactly how successful each of the bowlers is at striking the ball, helping you to identify the difference between average strike rates and effective strike rates. It is perhaps the best piece of cricketing software which tracks individual and collective performance to help bowlers identify their strengths.

Overall, Cricket 2021 is not a flawless game, but it does have excellent physics simulation technology which does a wonderful job of recreating the action and running through the various conditions and difficulties. It's not just a case of swinging with your left hand, either - even a mediocre performer on your screen can bat and bowl! However, if you do prefer to take part in the action with a physical cricket ball, then you'll be happy to know that there are 'realistic' cricket balls available, which have been recreated to the highest detail and to emulate the bounce, weight and flight of a real ball. As well as being able to practice with a live ball, you can test out the different options on offer to find out which ball strikes the ball most effectively. It makes the entire Cricket 2021 experience more of an actual game, and not just a video game based on a traditional sport.