International Test Cricket

Pros

• New Sport - One of the great things about this game is that it gives exposure to the sport of cricket in parts of the world, namely the Americas, where it doesn't receive any exposure. In reality, baseball fans might enjoy the sport.
• Flexibility - International Test Cricket allows for a lot of customization. It provides gamers with the ability to experience the game in a multitude of ways.

Cons

• Complicated Rules - Gamers who are not familiar with cricket may get frustrated with the rules of the game. On each play, there are so many things going on that novice players may get lost and frustrated to the point of walking away.

International Test Cricket is a very interesting game simulation of a sport that is not familiar to many people throughout the world. Publisher/software developer Daniel Thomas has attempted to create a game that provides an accurate simulation of a game that is complicated in its rules and the manner in which the game is played. For the most part, Thomas has succeeded.

Prior to downloading the game, it would be advisable for the gamer to read up on the sport and its rules. The game goes into great depth in game-play mode. The game can be played against the computer or online against a live opponent. There are 10 teams with 20 player rosters representing countries where cricket has a major presence. These countries include India, South Africa, West Indies, England and Pakistan. Recent statistics have been used to program the abilities of the star players from each team.

The most positive aspect of this game is the ability of gamers to customize many of the game-play features. The player chooses features such as game-play aggression level, batting/bowling order, weather conditions, field type and conditions, and bowling controls. League play can be set up using a league organizer. When it's time to play the game, it takes a while to get accustomed to the rules and strategies. Strategies are played out by manipulating the bowling and batting order. Gamers who are unfamiliar with the sport will have to struggle to learn the attributes of star players. All that said, the game is fun to play, especially against a live opponent. The game can be played with up to six test matches.

The game is heavily driven by stats and strategy. The game-play process of bowling, batting and running the wickets is much like playing any other sports video game. Once the gamer gets used to the controls, efficiency kicks in and scores start to escalate. As stats begin to accumulate, they are available for viewing or printing out. Multiple year databases are available creating the ability to play with different sets of players and results. The graphics are rather ordinary with animation that is acceptable. After a recent redesign, the game is now compatible with all versions of Microsoft's operating system.

Pros

• New Sport - One of the great things about this game is that it gives exposure to the sport of cricket in parts of the world, namely the Americas, where it doesn't receive any exposure. In reality, baseball fans might enjoy the sport.
• Flexibility - International Test Cricket allows for a lot of customization. It provides gamers with the ability to experience the game in a multitude of ways.

Cons

• Complicated Rules - Gamers who are not familiar with cricket may get frustrated with the rules of the game. On each play, there are so many things going on that novice players may get lost and frustrated to the point of walking away.