Reduce Caught-and-Bowled from Straight Drive

[Holden Ahn]

Congratulations to Big Ant Studios for so ambitiously simulating cricket, and doing so on the PC. The fact that so much about Don Bradman Cricket 14 is right seems to, unfairly and unfortunately, make those things that are wrong with it all the more glaring and bothersome.

After playing non-stop for hours following release, having played the Academy nets demo a number of times beforehand, I found that a single issue in particular makes the game an exercise in frustatration.

Perfectly timed standard (non-lofted/aggressive/defensive) straight drives using only the thumb sticks with perfect foot placement (according to the indication given in batting match practice) very, very often result in caught-and-bowled - even in amateur difficulty, and even when performed by a batsman of quality against a poor bowler (seamer or spinner) on a flat pitch. This issue (coupled with the fact that there is nothing between straight drive and cover drive) effectively removes perhaps THE go-to scoring shot from the batting arsenal, and hence makes batting unrealistic and overly difficult without HUD element assistance. "Aggressive ground shot" straight drives (activated by holding both triggers) do not seem to have these quirks, but are riskier otherwise and require preemption.

While this might not seem like such a big issue, given that most players will be happy to bash away with cross-batted and aerial shots using the assistance of all of the HUD elements, what I found to be so exciting about this game was the true-to-life simulation potential on offer through the removal of every bit of visual assistance, natural batting controls, and realistic physics. I can appreciate playing straight to a ball moving away and getting caught behind, after starting to build a decent Test innings - but it really is a bother to have my avatar let me down by playing into the hands of the bowler when I've done everything right - not once, not twice, but practically each and every innings.

I'll be looking forward to a fix, and grateful to get back to playing once it has been implemented - as will at least some other purists, I'm sure!

[Dr. Dee]

I agree that the straight drive is a perilous option right now. I've mainly played career mode as a bowling all-rounder (though batting hasn't been my forté) and assumed that problems here were down to my player's inexperience. The bowler rarely catches these but the risk is always there and even if the bowler fluffs the catch, it still doesn't end in runs so it's not really worth the risk. So you can't really get you eye in by playing in the 'V'. Of course it could just be my bad technique...I don't have the HUDs on...so my timing could be off.

The other problem I've had straight driving is that if I send it to the other side of the stumps to the bowler, I end up hitting the batsman at the non-striker's end. He never evades the shot but stands there and takes it manfully. All very brave but not helping the team's cause by and large.

[Holden Ahn]

Given that, as I previously noted, even perfectly executed straight drives on low difficulty levels performed by specialist batsmen often result in caught and bowled, the issue seems to be beyond player inexperience or a lack of timing. While it is true that an extraordinary number of caught and bowled chances are dropped on lower difficulty settings (on Legend, the fielders are ruthless), enough are taken that regularly playing the standard straight drive seems to be suicidal.

I should also note that if the standard straight drive is played to a ball on the off side, the batsman will instead be caught by mid off, if one exists. Actually, it's not just the straight drive - most standard shots (those played with only the thumb sticks) almost always stay in the air for a while. This is not at all how it should be; really, only intentionally aerial or poorly hit shots should ever be catchable by fielders beyond the silly positions.

I have experienced drives hitting the non-striker more often than should be expected as well, but that obviously isn't the game-breaking issue that the suicidal standard shot is.

[Sluglord Zor]

i agree 100%, made a post just now about how conservative batting needs to be tweaked. all the drive shots are just airborne too regularly. Players need to be given more incentive to play conservatively. And certain non aggressive shots just arent productive. I also feel the fielders run too fast in relation to the games ball physics, if you slow down the fielders somewhat more singles etc will naturally occur.

[76561198030043640]

100% agree with this assessment.

When I started playing on Amateur, the problem wasn't as apparent because of the semi-automatic CPU compensation inherent in shot selection, allowing for far more varied shots to be played off of a given delivery than are otherwise possible.

However, after moving to Pro (upon realising said 'semi-automation'), it's clear there's a serious issue with caught-and-bowled dismissals and straight driving. It looks like it stems from the batsman's seeming inability to keep any shot down or play it into the pitch (as is fundamental for this most necessary of shots). As a result, the only way to play straight safely is to either block (RT) or to try exaggerate the drive direction (right-stick) to the on or off-side, which obviously increases the risk of miss-hitting.

This problem really needs to be fixed because it hampers the batting experience drastically. Not being able to drive is akin to not being able to bowl at the stumps -- it breaks the game as a cricketing simulator.