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Cricket 19: Ashes Cricket game gets a revamp ahead of epic summer of cricket

Stuart Broad bowls in the new game

The 2005 Ashes series is generally regarded as one of the greatest ever.

The five-match Test series was won 2-1 by England as the hosts tore the iron grip of Australia away from the world’s smallest trophy.

For fans of video games, though, that experience is coming to console for the first time. Or for Australians, a chance to make amends.

Cricket 19, the latest in a series from Big Ant Studios, is set for release later this month ahead of a mammoth summer of cricket.

England will play hosts as the Cricket World Cup precedes the Ashes, but the ability to replay crucial historical moments feels as fresh as the upcoming action.

“Scenario mode is one of the biggest new features,” Development director Mike Merren explains. “You can go in and there’s the ability to play creative scenarios which might be to get a certain amount of wickets in a certain amount of overs or to score a certain amount of runs quickly.

“I think the guts of it will be when people start creating all those ones that people can share.”

But what about those of us who are less enamoured to build from scratch?

“The scenario editor means you can spend hours setting up real life scorecards that have happened in the past, that could be to get the last wicket in the 2005 Ashes series at Trent Bridge.

“Those things can be shared on the sharing server. Scenarios can go on there and then get downloaded, so people who may not be as patient can still get those scenarios.”

READ MORE: Ashes Cricket developers confirm successor

Moeen Ali fields in Cricket 19
Moeen Ali fields in Cricket 19

He is, of course, referring to ‘The Academy’, a longstanding part of BigAnt’s cricket games which emphasise their authenticity.

The Academy is a creative mode within the game which allows fans to build players from scratch among other things.

Umpires, stadiums and kits also feature as the community can unite to add extra gloss to the gaming experience.

For the first time though, Cricket 19 will see the mode released before the game - so fans on PC can get busy building in preparation.

“The biggest thing is making it easier for people to create players,” he added. “We’ve added the PlayFace feature. This was added to AO Tennis when it came out.

“When using the PC version, people can use a texture to create a face, and then upload that to the server and then the console guys can use it. I think it will add a fair bit.

“People need to know what they’re doing, but the stuff created for tennis was incredible.”

Cricket 19, like its predecessor Ashes Cricket, will feature a fully-licensed Ashes series mode with photo-realistic player shots.

England and Australia playing an ODI
England and Australia playing an ODI

The five-day Test series has been enhanced with ‘intelligent’ AI and improved tactics, which means matches should last the full five days. Or at least four.

And the new edition will also bring back the popular career mode, with an increased emphasis on player longevity.

“Career mode now has changed how the skill system works, and we’ve added the perks system.

“For any given match you can change one of the smaller perks - for example a slight improvement against a spin bowler, or to bowl better as a spin bowler - but the gold perks will give you big boosts, and you can only change that when you level up.”

Cricket 19 will be released on May 28 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. A PC version will be available on Steam shortly after.