Cricket Captain 2023 Release date and Features

[ZH8]

As a beta-tester, I can tell you that the FC/Tests matchplay is the best I've seen in years.

• Does a specialist allrounder, as 5th bowler, get enough overs?
• Does the AI stop giving overs to a low-skilled, unrealistic, 6th bowler? (yeah, in CC Mushfiqur Rahim, for Bangladesh, gets overs in test cricket )
• Does the test keeper bat down in the batting order?
• We will get Bazball but does the Nightwatchmen rule exist?

The above statements are for FC/Test.

Now for limited overs:

• There is an additional aggression bar to cope with modern-day death overs; however, are there specialist death-over bowlers?
• Do an opening fast bowler stop bowling consecutively prior to the death overs to make room for part-timers, often spinners, , to bowl during the death overs?
• Simply, is there a dynamic tactic by AI to use its bowlers?
• Is there a rule for pinch hitters getting promoted to the order if situations demand?

Then, do regens get different hands for different skills? A feature I've been asking for the last 5-6 years.

[GrahamB]

• Does a specialist allrounder, as 5th bowler, get enough overs? They do get used, but how many overs is enough? That's subjective.
• Does the AI stop giving overs to a low-skilled, unrealistic, 6th bowler? (yeah, in CC Mushfiqur Rahim, for Bangladesh, gets overs in test cricket ) If it has, I've not noticed it being an issue.
• Does the test keeper bat down in the batting order? Does that matter? Adam Gilchrist used to open. Daniel Parore batted at 3.
• We will get Bazball but does the Nightwatchmen rule exist? Doesn't seem to be used by the AI.

The above statements are for FC/Test.

Now for limited overs: I've not tested the shorter formats yet.

• There is an additional aggression bar to cope with modern-day death overs; however, are there specialist death-over bowlers?
• Do an opening fast bowler stop bowling consecutively prior to the death overs to make room for part-timers, often spinners, , to bowl during the death overs?
• Simply, is there a dynamic tactic by AI to use its bowlers?
• Is there a rule for pinch hitters getting promoted to the order if situations demand?

Then, do regens get different hands for different skills? A feature I've been asking for the last 5-6 years.

Hope that is at least partly helpful.

[ZH8]

Hope that is at least partly helpful.

Thanks for the reply. Here are a few examples from the last iteration of what I meant. The issue is with 5th (and surprisingly 4th as well) bowlers in general

Case 1 BD vs SAF




Case 2 BD vs SL




In the 1st case, Mehedy Hasan, a specialist offspinner, got only 8.3 overs in the whole game.
In the 2nd case, Ebadat Hossain, one of the main fast bowlers, got only 11 overs. This is despite BD's AI being a 4 bowler attack. Besides, AI did not even use Mosaddek Hossain, the batting-allrounder (offspinner), who was in the XI, in the 4th inning despite Taijul Islam's (SLA) fifer.

To me, these are the issues that make the CC an unrealistic game of cricket. They should've considered bazball only after correcting the AI logic. With these issues, the game will never simulate a proper game of cricket.

[GrahamB]

Thanks for the reply. Here are a few examples from the last iteration of what I meant. The issue is with 5th (and surprisingly 4th as well) bowlers in general

Case 1 BD vs SAF




Case 2 BD vs SL




In the 1st case, Mehedy Hasan, a specialist offspinner, got only 8.3 overs in the whole game.
In the 2nd case, Ebadat Hossain, one of the main fast bowlers, got only 11 overs. This is despite BD's AI being a 4 bowler attack. Besides, AI did not even use Mosaddek Hossain, the batting-allrounder (offspinner), who was in the XI, in the 4th inning despite Taijul Islam's (SLA) fifer.

To me, these are the issues that make the CC an unrealistic game of cricket. They should've considered bazball only after correcting the AI logic. With these issues, the game will never simulate a proper game of cricket.

I'll take note and keep an eye on it, but I do know that when I played Aussie, all four pace bowlers got pretty equally used (Green, Boland, Cummins and Starc) and the allrounder (Hardy) bowled a lesser number.
As they didn't have a specialist spinner, Steve Smith bowled a tiny number of overs.

[Wilted]

Good to see a release date. A few new and redone stadiums, changed formats and comps, updated database and some balance tweaks is just how it is for Cricket Captain. For me personally, CC is basically an annual subscription for up-to-date stats and comps. That being said, it is a steep price for minor changes and the criticism for lack of new features is valid. At this stage, I imagine adding something such DRS or more options in Custom Series are just too much to add on top of the existing system.

A lot of the suggestions that have been made wont be added unless there's an overhaul of the entire game. I'd love to see it happen, but there's no other Cricket management sim with the same polish as Cricket Captain so I don't see it happening. Still after all that, I'm looking forward to the new release.

[MozzieOzzie]

I'm a rare one played a version at least 12/13 years ago and then a big break until CC22. Over 1200 played hours now and I for one can't wait for the new version. In all reality if it is a new title every year and only small team then bravo for your commitment to the games.

You have my full support as this game has literally brought me out of a very dark place since I started playing it in April of last year and got me back into watching Lancashire via youtube. Only things I would like to have in future games is the ability to bring more money in so you can afford to keep long term players, or spend more money on training if a small initial budget, the ability to retrain batters who can't bowl to be wicketkeep or slips/gully etc specific.

Also sometimes you can turn a batter who bowls part time into an allrounder, Tom Lammomby for instance, signed him a few times and turned him into a allrounder, can't remember if its just general bowling training, aggression or experience of overs that change them, also did the same with Beyers Swaenpol before the big update a few times.

Overall though Its a great game, I play on PC so am unable to comment on the platforms, if I installed it on my mac it would be very dangerous for my productivity lol

[S.A.& Kent]

Perhaps being able to introduce players into the game, using data available in Cricket Archive etc. would enable players of CC to actually create touring squads made up with some none internationally recognised players; this would suit those who enjoy cricket from earlier eras.

[GrahamB]

Perhaps being able to introduce players into the game, using data available in Cricket Archive etc. would enable players of CC to actually create touring squads made up with some none internationally recognised players; this would suit those who enjoy cricket from earlier eras.

There are historical scenarios in the game already.

[GrahamB]

Something new. :-)

[sujith]

I am someone who is playing this game from 2002. Bought all the editions since 2012. A big thanks for involving Asia cup. I understood the team is small, but would recommend the following features in the upcoming edition from 2024 or so.

1. Updated version of T20 world cup from 2024 with 20 teams in 5 groups leading to Super 8 and then semi's and final.
2. T10 league
3. Impact sub rule in IPL and choosing team after toss.
4. Bring back Champions trophy every 4 year from 2025.
5. International League T20 (UAE) where upto 9 foreign players can be in the team.
6. In IPL after few years of playing noticing opposition teams only using 2 foreign players. Would love to see the teams using all foreign players.
7. Involvement of associate teams in international schedule.
8. Involve random tri-series's in future international schedule.
9. Ability to schedule matches in international mode.
10. Different kits in T20I and ODI

[ruby23]

I'm one of those who plays this game purely for statistics. Its extremely enjoyable and I've spent thousands of hours trying to understand the way in which AI approaches the selection of players for a match as well as their in game usability.

In most cases while playing FC, the top 4 bowlers with the best ability will be used 90% of the overs. Depending on the type of pitch, the top 3 bowlers with the best ability will bowl at least 75% of the overs. While this may not be 100% accurate in a real life situation, it's very difficult to train the AI to be more random. Batting order will also remain the same as seen in the pre-match screen. This is a limitation in the game which one has to accept.

When playing limited overs, if there is more than one slow bowler (spinner), in most cases one of them will be bowling the death overs. Usually, it's bowler number 1 and 5 or 4 and 5 bowling death overs. So if your spinner is bowler number 3, he won't be utilized in death overs normally.

There have been some subtle tweaks in the AI algorithm every year, although not seemingly discernable. Its improving in my opinion.

[Trevfromsussex&Oz]

There are historical scenarios in the game already.

Why not link those scenarios together in an England captain campaign? Sureshot did complain I was asking for too much in an ATG campaign. Do this as an achievable try.

[Alrounder80]

Completely understand and appreciate your sentiments GrahamB. But don't you think Sureshot at the least owes his fans (who've bought at least 5 editions or more) a simple Player editor to enhance the realism of the game? I will buy every year to support them, no doubt about it. But there must be some loyalty shown to the buyers who are loyal to you also ✌️

I didn't play CC2022, my first time not playing a version of CC in more than a decade, because I couldn't find an editor since they changed some things with the game for that version which made it hard to create an editor for it for the couple of guys that create it for the game every year. After realising how great having an editor is for this game, it became totally unplayable for me without one. I've just been playing CC21 since that one has a working editor that I have access to. It would be so greatly appreciated if the game offered an in-game editor but it's been made clear by the devs that they think this goes against a key part of playing the game which is to figure out who are skilled players based on performances rather than finding out instantly by seeing their skill rating.

[ruby23]

I didn't play CC2022, my first time not playing a version of CC in more than a decade, because I couldn't find an editor since they changed some things with the game for that version which made it hard to create an editor for it for the couple of guys that create it for the game every year. After realising how great having an editor is for this game, it became totally unplayable for me without one. I've just been playing CC21 since that one has a working editor that I have access to. It would be so greatly appreciated if the game offered an in-game editor but it's been made clear by the devs that they think this goes against a key part of playing the game which is to figure out who are skilled players based on performances rather than finding out instantly by seeing their skill rating.

Well, an editor with some limitations can be released. For example, one can tinker around with ability of a player only upto +\- 25%. But the least we should be allowed to do is to change players roles (all rounder to batting or bowling all rounder, opening bat to middle order, opening bowler to 1st change, etc.). That would make the game more realistic and not waste the Developers time in constantly adjusting the database for another 6 months into the game!

[binga58]

Thought I’d add my 2c worth. Been playing since 1998 on and off, last version I bought was 2019. There are times when I think gee I’d love to jump in and play but the game no longer is worth the $40aud for a database update. When I get the urge to play, I fire up my VM with Ashes CC2006 or ACC (1998). These games more than satisfy me and for the most part are still the same game you see today.

Chris and team, thanks for the enjoyment over the years. I hope you continue to take the feedback here onboard. The occasional steam sale probably wouldn’t hurt, and not just when the new game is 1 month out.