I watched the adverts with great anticipation, after the 2009 Ashes held in England. Hyped on by this I decided to buy the game for Wii, thinking that, as the remote requires swingning it might well be like actually playing cricket. However, I was a little dissapointed. I will go through it section by section to show the good points and the bad points in this game:

Batting
Initially I enjoyed the batting on Ashes Cricket 2009. It was responsive and well thought through. However, it does not really require much skill, you can just flick your wrist and achieve the same effect. Obviously, this is not a major problem as this is true of any game. I liked the fact that by pressing different buttons on the remote before and during the shot you can choose whether or not you want to hit the ball agressively, defensively or normally. I think that this aspect of the game is quite good and effective, because it means that you have to make a decision on the way in which you play the game.

Bowling
Bowling is relatively speaking, fairly good. Again you could use a bowling action in order to the release the ball. Alternatively, you could just flick your wrist! Selecting the place upon which the ball lands and then trying to time the action or flick to perfection to bowl the perfect ball is a very good asset. However, I would say that bowling can become fairly boring, and when you are playing in the two player mode it can become increasingly hard to get the opposing player out. I, personally, also loved the way in which you could choose to swing the ball or spin the ball by shining it against your leg or simply, yet again, flicking your wrist!

Fielding
Fielding is probably the thing which lets it down the most. It is, in my view completely unrealistic. For example, when the ball goes back past the bowler, at a normal distance at which he could just bend down and pick it up and throw it into the keeper. Instead he simply doesn't get down to it, making it increasingly easier for the batsmen and the batting side to build a heftier innings. I was dissapointed that there was no really exceptionnel fielding, such as an amazing diving stop on the boundary. Yet, there is quite often a very unrealistic, or at least "amazing" catch pulled off at very short range, from possibly the keeper, slips or sillly's.

The Other Options
The other options I thought were really great. You have the option to play at the different grounds, such as Johannesburg or Lord's. There is also the option to play The Ashes, (hence the name), which I thought was really great, as it allows you to play five test matches. The other options were great such as choosing the standard of opposition, from "beginner to county to international". Finally there was the chance to do some challenges, which range from country to country. For example you have to complete some challenges as Sri Lanka to unlock India etc. The challenges are things such as last ten overs without losing a wicket, or help Strauss get his hundred in the next five overs. I hav enjoyed completing these.

Conclusion
Overall I thought that the game was more or less a very fun and fairly successful game. I definitely think that some things could have been improved, but there are some things that I really enjoyed. I would, thus, thoroughly recommend it to anyone interested in cricket, having played it or wanting to get into it. It is a fun thing to play with up to four players and a nice way to relax. Although not one of my favorites I enjoyed Ashes Cricket 2009.

Recommended: Yes