A true test for true fans

International Cricket Captain III Empire Interactive £29.99 PC version

© Empire Interactive Enlarge

Kevin Pietersen, who ruled himself out of the running for the real job after Michael Vaughan stood down as one-day captain, is this year's star attached to the game but what really matters is how much is on offer for the fans.

Bringing the football-style management game to the cricket format hasn't been without its problems, but Cricket Captain continues to be the best around as long as people realise what they are getting for their money. It is very much a game for those who understand the finer points of cricket as the action largely consists of watching over-by-over (or even ball-by-ball) played out on the screen.

However, one of the advances for this version is improved 3D replays with smarter graphics and a nifty ball-tracking system along the lines of Hawk-Eye. But these still remain an addition to the main part of the game, rather than the reason to spend the money. There is a limit to how many times a cover drive or lbw can be watched, and following a Test match in ball-by-ball mode would be too much even for the most ardent fan.

What the game survives on is the variables of cricket. The artificial intelligence is impressively high, which means playing against the computer is a challenge. There are the occasional anomalies that pop up, for example when the computer picks its teams and finding some odd selections in the side (such as Gary Park batting seven for England) but it gets most things right.

Out or not out? Take a look for yourself © Empire Interactive Enlarge

You can decide to play the game in various formats, from a one-off exhibition match to taking on a Test side or playing in the World Cup. The full version starts you off in control of the county side of your choice and the prize of an international job if you are successful.

Once the game starts, it follows a familiar path for those who have played earlier editions. There are options to spend on squads (youth team, coaching and fitness) and at the end of each county season you can terminate contracts and buy new players. Cricket Captain impressively keeps up with real life with the availability of Kolpaks, plus statistics which are up to date to the start of the 2007 English season.

Within the matches themselves the games can be as in depth as the user wants. Pretty much anything that is important to a real match is available. There are options to change the batsmen's aggression (slogging from the start of a four-day game can create some curious scorecards), where the bowler aims, the field settings, and in one-day cricket the Powerplays are included.

The game can be played by anyone - the basics don't consist of much more than clicking the mouse - but to get the most of it you have to be a fairly dedicated cricket fan. Mid-way through a county season the grind starts to set in and playing your tenth one-day international on the bounce can get a little wearing. Come to think of it, the game is even more realistic than it first appeared.