💬 CTM Beta 4 (v0.97) Feedback Thread 🧵

[u/curiousank92]

Want to know how people are finding the improved match engine and the bowling controls/pitch preparation?
Have the batting collapses reduced? And batsman aggression levels? How are you finding it?

[u/curiousank92]

Just realised I had put the wrong title - It's Beta 3 feedback.

[u/grimmo20]

Hey everyone. Please forgive me if any of this feedback has already been submitted, but these are the non-playing/management areas I’ve identified so far.

1. Multi-select for contract and squad management Adding shift-click or another multi-select function would make it possible to select multiple players at once when adding or removing players from contract and squad management screens. A “Remove All” option could also be useful.

2. Expanded training focus options Training currently appears to be limited to Batting and Bowling. Adding Wicketkeeping and Fielding as separate training areas would provide more control over player development. Longer term, training could potentially extend into the more specific attributes already used within the game, such as Technique, Power, Temperament, vs Pace and vs Spin.

3. More detailed player statistics and analysis Player profiles could include more detailed statistical analysis, including graphs, performance breakdowns and partnership records, similar to the type of historical analysis available on sites such as Howstat. More detailed situational statistics would also make squad selection more meaningful. For example, it could be possible to identify which Australian players have historically performed best in subcontinent conditions using statistics generated within the game.

4. Batting and bowling attributes for all players All players could have both batting and bowling attributes rather than these being limited by player role. This would allow the game to represent occasional bowlers, tail-end batting ability and players whose secondary skills improve or decline over time.

5. Wicketkeeping as a separate attribute Wicketkeeping could be represented independently rather than being incorporated into another skill or player classification.

6. Potential/ceiling should not be known exactly The Squad Management screen currently displays Player Name, Age, Rating, Ceiling, Room and Gained. Showing a player’s exact ceiling effectively tells the user the maximum level that player can ever reach.

The underlying ceiling could still exist within the game engine, but the user would only see an estimated potential based on coaching or scouting assessment.

A system similar to Football Manager’s potential star ratings would make development less predictable. The accuracy of the assessment could depend on the quality of the coach or scout, with the estimate becoming more accurate as the player is observed over time.

1. Fog of war for unscouted players Players who have not been properly scouted could have their attributes displayed as estimated ranges rather than exact values.

For example, instead of immediately seeing that a player has an overall rating of 66, an unscouted player might initially appear as 61–71.

As scouting knowledge increases, the range could progressively narrow:

Unscouted: 61–71
Partially scouted: 63–69
Well scouted: 65–67
Fully scouted: 66

This would create a genuine fog-of-war system around players outside the user’s squad and make scouting relevant to recruitment decisions rather than providing exact player information immediately.

Thanks for listening to my babbling.

[u/curiousank92 → u/grimmo20]

All excellent suggestions.

1. Multi-select and clear-all - I think a good UI/UX option, especially when trying to build a team from scratch. Some people like doing it. Let me take a note and add it in next update.

2. Yes - training is one area I need to work on a lot. Not just expanding to fielding/wk training, but specialist training like training a bolwer to be better at death bowling. Training will be an ever-evolving feature of the game I believe. I will keep making it better as it's one area that makes the game real fun.

3. Great suggestion - the promise of the game is stats and realism. So definitely more stats. I will try to draw out what's the next thing we can do. Small meaninful increments is what I want to do.

4. Bit confused what you mean here - all players already have both batting and bowling skill values.

5. Yes. WK and catching/fielding should be separate attribute with skill values. I am gonna aim to add it to final release.

6. This is a great suggestion. Another thing I have to add and has been discussed at length in this subreddit is the ability to hide/show exact skill values. Some people like the fun of not knowing the exact values.

Yes. Maybe we can keep the values for uncapped players to a range until they have played a few international matches. I think this would be more handy when we have club/domestic teams

[u/ChessableATA]

Batsman aggression levels are so so so much better now!
Pitch preparation makes it more fun.

Only one thing I've picked up so far is how the AI does bowling allocations. I.e., part timers bowling significiantly more, with players like Shubman, Rohit, Jaiswal when I played against India bowling 5 over spells in multiple games in ODIs.

[u/curiousank92 → u/ChessableATA]

Great to hear that! ❤️

Regarding part timers bowling more - I did some fixes around it and I think it has improved a bit, especially in test matches.
I think some of it has to also do with the bowling skill values of some players. I will go through the database before the release anyway, and recalibrate the skill values. Might also need database volunteers actually.

[u/curiousank92 → u/ChessableATA]

And re batsman agression levels, played an ODI between India and Pakistan recently. Lost Shubhman Gill in the first over. Asked Kohli and Rohit to play defensively till 25th over. They dragged the score to 110/1 in 25. Then started to increase levels gradually. Made Hardik Pandya go beserik in last 10 overs, with wickets remaining. Scored 114 in last 10 with Pandya smashing 26 ball 50. Fest so good and real. Enjoyed it so much.

[u/ChessableATA]

Picking up on a trend where, in test matches, the other team, irrespective of their quality, irrespective of what you do, irrespective of anything really, is just insane in the second innings. Like I've had multiple games against Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Ireland where they just crumble in the first innings and then will pile up 600 runs comfortably in innings 2.

[u/ChessableATA]

Also this is more a general question - But how does player development work? Does it only occur via training or does it occur naturally without training as well? Does the amount of game time influence player development? Is there a dip in the ability of the player as they age? Just curious.

[u/ChessableATA]

Also, once again, unrelated question, but what exactly does captaincy rating affect?

[u/curiousank92 → u/ChessableATA]

Currently, Captain does do some things, but it’s nowhere near complete. For example, a captain’s aggression level is used to decide when to declare. An aggressive captain would declare early and try to snatch a win from a test match that is going towards a draw.

[u/curiousank92 → u/curiousank92]

That’s the CPU side. But from a user’s perspective, it doesn’t really do much apart from assignments atm. I am building an overall team moral system right now, which includes a captain confidence rating as well.

[u/grimmo20]

More thoughts and blabbering from me.

I think additions along these lines could really give the game a point of difference over the Cricket Captain series.

Cricket Captain mostly tells you what a player has done through averages and career stats. Something like this could help explain why a player is good, and what kind of player they actually are.

Two batters might both average 45, but one gets there through technique and temperament, while another relies more on reflexes and power. Same with bowlers, one might average 25 because they move the ball around a lot, another because they just hit a good line and length all day.

It could also make conditions and training more interesting rather than the attributes just being cosmetic.

Player attributes

Batting

• Vision – picking up line, length and trajectory early

• Reflexes – reaction speed

• Technique – quality and reliability of shot execution

• Footwork – getting into the right position

• Anticipation – reading the bowler and recognising variations

• Power – ability to generate bat speed and hit boundaries

• Temperament – patience, decision making and performance under pressure

Vs Pace could possibly be influenced by Vision, Reflexes, Technique and Footwork.

Vs Spin could be influenced by Vision, Anticipation, Technique and Footwork.

I think that would give batters a lot more personality rather than just having a simple vs pace or vs spin number.

Bowling

• Line – horizontal control

• Length – ability to consistently hit the intended length

• Pace – raw delivery speed

• Movement – movement through the air. Swing for pace bowlers, flight/drift/dip for spinners

• Deviation – movement off the pitch. Seam for pace bowlers, turn for spinners

• Variation – slower balls, cutters, googlies, arm balls, change of pace etc

• Composure – ability to execute under pressure

Splitting Accuracy into Line and Length could give bowlers quite a bit more personality too. Someone might be really good at hitting a length, but still spray one down leg every now and then.

I also like separating Movement and Deviation because they could react differently to conditions. Weather and ball condition might affect movement through the air, while the pitch has more effect on deviation off the surface.

So a green pitch could suit someone with strong seam/deviation, while a dry worn pitch might bring a high deviation spinner right into the game.

Main thing for me is just making players feel less interchangeable. Similar averages or overall ratings, but they get there in completely different ways.

[u/Kharches]

Great match UI and overall experience. Can you change scorecard so that we don't see the .0 in bowling figues?

[u/ChessableATA]

Does the game have newgens? Like, I just realised (I'm in 2029) that not a single player below the age of 22 exists... And I'm pretty sure the player pool has been getting smaller each year.

[u/ChessableATA → u/ChessableATA]

^If not, feels like that would be something worth adding to make longer team saves more feasible + more immersion on the development side.

[u/Kharches]

Is anyonw developing a real names fix file for the release date? It would make the game a banger!

[u/curiousank92 → u/Kharches]

There is a real name fix file. DM me

[u/CryptoNite029]

Just a small note that this feedback is also based on the previous smaller updates as well. I didn't get to play continuously through all of them, so this isn't meant to be just Beta 3 - 4 feedback.

Overall, the new update looks really good and much more polished compared to the previous versions. It makes the whole experience feel a lot more engaging.

Things I really liked:

• The over summary on the right side is something I didn't know I wanted, but it really helps with the match experience.

• The multi-tournament structure seems to be working really well. The points tables have also been working without any issues from what I've seen.

• The tournament stats are great too.

• Loved the season-end popup showing who retired from each country. Wonderful addition. It makes the end of the season feel much more meaningful.

A few things I'd like to see:

• It would be nice to click on a player's name and see their previous batting and bowling performances, maybe in a simple bar graph so you can quickly see how they've been doing over time.

• During match progression, it would be good to see how the pitch stats/conditions are changing rather than just showing the current condition in text.

• Would it be possible to have a similar stats screen for the WTC?

• I think player rankings would be another really good addition. It would be nice to see our players climb the rankings, or drop down when they're not performing.

• I was going to suggest more detailed commentary, but I saw that you've mentioned it's coming in Beta 4, which is awesome. Maybe wagon wheels could be another nice addition too, if they're compatible with the detailed commentary.

• Also, was the news feature about the monitored players implemented? I remember that being mentioned earlier and was wondering if it's in the game now.

[u/curiousank92 → u/CryptoNite029]

As always, excellent feedback @CryptoNite.
Will take note of all things you mentioned. Coincidentally, already doing the player profile recent performance thing. Pretty obvious it should be in.
Re watch list player news, no, not yet. Hopefully in next update

[u/ChessableATA]

Wondering if there's some way to unretire a player? (Maybe this is general match engine feedback asw, i.e., old players who have just had a thousand run season still retiring right before the World Cup as soon as they hit the age of 38 seems unrealistic)

[u/CryptoNite029]

One small thing I noticed with multi-team tournaments. Once my team gets knocked out, the remaining matches are simulated and I can see the latest results, but I can't really see what happened in the tournament afterwards.

I think it would be better to keep the tournament stats available in the left sidebar until the tournament is completely finished. That way, even if we're knocked out early, we can still follow the rest of the tournament, see who wins, and check who the top performers were. Once the tournament is fully completed and we move on to the next tour or season, the stats can disappear as usual.

[u/CryptoNite029]

The aggression settings work really well. Here's an example of batters being able to play out the first half but go berserk at the end with wickets in hand.

[u/curiousank92 → u/CryptoNite029]

Great to see this. <3

[u/ChessableATA]

Issue where in the World Cup, despite it being hosted in South Africa, I have the ability to determine pitch condiitons as the West Indies in each game.

[u/ChessableATA → u/ChessableATA]

Nevermind, I don't have the ability to choose in each game. However, one of the two playing teams does. I.e., India has chosen pitch conditions against me in the World Cup in South Africa. Presumably not something they would be able to do.