Playthrough Planning - Test Cricket

Aislabie

Test Cricket is Best Cricket
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A Complete (Eventually, Maybe) Playthrough of Test Cricket

So this absolutely isn't going to be instead of my England playthrough, this is just a second idea that I want to have the option of playing with from time to time. It's a frankly enormous idea, and one that I know I'll never realistically finish, but that doesn't mean I can't at least start it. In order to make this work I'll have to set myself a few ground rules.
  1. The Player Team
    1. Where possible, I will play as the team which lost the Test match or series in real life.
    2. If the match or series was drawn, I will play as the away team.
    3. If that drawn match or series was held at a neutral location, I will play as whoever I deem to be more fun.
  2. Selection
    1. Where possible, I will aim to select the same team as was used in real life. Ian Salisbury fans rejoice!
    2. If a player who was uninjured in real life becomes injured in the game, I will replace them with a player of my choice from the playing squad.
    3. If more than 18 players are used during a Test series, I will be restricted to a playing squad of 18 and will make selections for my playing XI accordingly.
  3. Fixtures
    1. Where possible, I will aim to replicate fixtures as they occurred in real life.
    2. If a real life Test series was scheduled for six or more Test matches, I will shorten it to a five-match series because that makes my life easier.
    3. I may add in real-life matches and series that were not awarded Test status in our timeline.
  4. Stat Keeping
    1. I will try to keep stats and records in the same way that I have done in my England playthrough.
    2. This will almost certainly not include the honours board, because that would quickly become madness.
    3. I'm sure this won't get out of hand.
 
Series Itinerary

Eventually, this will be a complete list of all series I intend to play as part of this playthrough. This does include some fixtures which were not deemed Test matches in real life.

Work in progress (naturally)

1873-74
:aus: Australia vs England :eng: - 1 Test - unsure

1874
:eng: England vs Scotland :sco: - 1 Test - unsure

1876-77
:aus: Australia vs England :eng: - 2 Tests

1878
:eng: England vs Australia :aus: - 1 Test
:usa: United States vs Australia :aus: - 1 Test

1878-79
:aus: Australia vs England :eng: - 1 Test
1880
:eng: England vs Australia :aus: - 1 Test

1881-82
:aus: Australia vs England :eng: - 4 Tests

1882
:eng: England vs Australia :aus: - 1 Test

1882-83
:aus: Australia vs England :eng: - 4 Tests

1884
:eng: England vs Australia :aus: - 3 Tests

1884-85
:aus: Australia vs England :eng: - 5 Tests

1885
:usa: United States vs England :eng: - 2 Tests

1886
:eng: England vs Australia :aus: - 3 Tests
:usa: United States vs England :eng: - 2 Tests

1886-87
:aus: Australia vs England :eng: - 2 Tests

1887-88
:aus: Australia vs England :eng: - 1 Test

1888
:eng: England vs Australia :aus: - 3 Tests

1888-89
:saf: South Africa vs England :eng: - 2 Tests
1891
:usa: United States vs England :eng: - 2 Tests

1892-93
:ind: India vs England :eng: - 1 Test

1893
:usa: United States vs Australia :aus: - 2 Tests

1894
:usa: United States vs England :eng: - 2 Tests

1895
:usa: United States vs England :eng: - 2 Tests

1895-96
:nzf: New Zealand vs Fiji :fij: - 1Test - didn't happen in real life

1896
:usa: United States vs Australia :aus: - 3 Tests

1896-97
:wi: West Indies vs England :eng: - 1 Test

1897
:eng: England vs United States :usa: - 1 Test
:usa: United States vs England :eng: - 2 Tests

1898
:usa: United States vs England :eng: - 2 Tests

1899
:usa: United States vs England :eng: - 2 Tests
1901
:usa: United States vs England :eng: - 2 Tests

1902
:eng: England vs Ireland :ire: - 1 Test

1902-03
:wi: West Indies vs England :eng: - 3 Tests
:nzf: New Zealand vs England :eng: - 2 Tests

1903
:eng: England vs United States :usa: - 1 Test

1904-05
:nzf: New Zealand vs Australia :aus: - 2 Tests
:wi: West Indies vs England :eng: - 2 Tests

1905
:usa: United States vs England :eng: - 2 Tests

1906
:eng: England vs West Indies :wi: - 3 Tests - (WG Grace XI, MCC, England XI)
:sco: Scotland vs West Indies :wi: - 1 Test

1906-07
:nzf: New Zealand vs England :eng: - 2 Tests

1907
:usa: United States vs England :eng: - 2 Tests
:ire: Ireland vs South Africa :saf: - 1 Test

1908
:ire: Ireland vs United States :usa: - 1 Test
:eng: England vs United States :usa: - 1 Test

1909
:usa: United States vs Ireland :ire: - 2 Tests
1909-10
:nzf: New Zealand vs Australia :aus: - 2 Tests

1910-11
:wi: West Indies vs England :eng: - 3 Tests

1911
:eng: England vs India :ind: - 1 Test
:sco: Scotland vs India :ind: - 1 Test

1911-12
:arg: Argentina vs England :eng: - 3 Tests

1912
:usa: United States vs Australia :aus: - 2 Tests
:ire: Ireland vs South Africa :saf: - 1 Test

1912-13
:wi: West Indies vs England :eng: - 3 Tests

1913
:usa: United States vs Australia :aus: - 3 Tests

1913-14
:nzf: New Zealand vs Australia :aus: - 2 Tests

1915-16
:ind: India vs England :eng: - 1 Test

1918-19
:ind: India vs England :eng: - 1 Test
1920-21
:nzf: New Zealand vs Australia :aus: - 2 Tests

1922
:eng: England vs Scotland :sco: - 1 Test

1922-23
:nzf: New Zealand vs England :eng: - 3 Tests

1923
:sco: Scotland vs Wales :unf: - 1 Test
:eng: England vs West Indies :wi: - 2 Tests - (MCC, L-Gower XI)

1925
:eng: England vs Wales :unf: - 1 Test

1925-26
:wi: West Indies vs England :eng: - 3 Tests

1926
:eng: England vs Wales :unf: - 1 Test

1926-27
:ind: India vs England :eng: - 3 Tests
:arg: Argentina vs England :eng: - 4 Tests
:sri: Ceylon vs England :eng: - 1 Test

1927
:eng: England vs New Zealand :nzf: - 1 Test
:ire: Ireland vs Wales :unf: - 1 Test

1927-28
:nzf: New Zealand vs Australia :aus: - 2 Tests

1928
:ire: Ireland vs West Indies :wi: - 1 Test
:ire: Ireland vs England :eng: - 1 Test
:eng: England vs Wales :unf: - 1 Test

1929
:eng: England vs Wales :unf: - 1 Test
1929-30
:arg: Argentina vs England :eng: - 3 Tests

1930
:eng: England vs Wales :unf: - 1 Test

1932
:ind: India vs Ceylon :sri: - 2 Tests

1933-34
:sri: Sri Lanka vs England :eng: - 1 Test

1934
:ire: Ireland vs England :eng: - 1 Test

1935-36
:sri: Ceylon vs Australia :aus: - 1 Test

1936
:ire: Ireland vs India :ind: - 1 Test
:ire: Ireland vs England :eng: - 1 Test

1936-37
:sri: Ceylon vs England :eng: - 1 Test

1937
:ire: Ireland vs New Zealand :nzf: - 1 Test

1937-38
:arg: Argentina vs England :eng: - 3 Tests
1940-41
:ind: India vs Ceylon :sri: - 2 Tests

1944-45
:sri: Ceylon vs India :ind: - 1 Test

1947-48
:nzf: New Zealand vs Fiji :fij: - 1Test - didn't happen in real life

1948
:ire: Ireland vs England :eng: - 1 Test

1948-1949
:pak: Pakistan vs West Indies :wi: - 1 Test
:sri: Ceylon vs West Indies :wi: - 2 Tests

1949
:sri: Ceylon vs Pakistan :pak: - 2 Tests
1949-1950
:pak: Pakistan vs Ceylon :sri: - 2 Tests

1950
:ire: Ireland vs England :eng: - 1 Test

1951
:can: Canada vs England :eng: - 1 Test

1951-1952
:pak: Pakistan vs England :eng: - 2 Tests
:sri: Ceylon vs England :eng: - 1 Test

1952
:ire: Ireland vs England :eng: - 1 Test

1953-54
:nzf: New Zealand vs Fiji :fij: - 1Test - didn't happen in real life

1954
:ire: Ireland vs England :eng: - 1 Test

1956
:ire: Ireland vs England :eng: - 1 Test

1956-57
:sri: Ceylon vs India :ind: - 2 Tests

1958
:ire: Ireland vs England :eng: - 1 Test
1960
:ire: Ireland vs England :eng: - 1 Test

1961
:ire: Ireland vs England :eng: - 1 Test

1961-62
:sri: Ceylon vs England :eng: - 1 Test

1963-64
:unf: East Africa vs England :eng: - 1 Test

1964
:ire: Ireland vs England :eng: - 1 Test

1964-65
:ind: India vs Ceylon :sri: - 3 Tests

1965
:ire: Ireland vs New Zealand :nzf: - 1 Test

1966
:ire: Ireland vs England :eng: - 1 Test

1966-67
:pak: Pakistan vs Ceylon :sri: - 3 Tests
:sri: Ceylon vs West Indies :wi: - 1 Test

1967
:unf: East Africa vs India :ind: - 1 Test

1968
:ire: Ireland vs England :eng: - 1 Test

1968-69
:sri: Ceylon vs England :eng: - 1 Test

1969-70
:sri: Ceylon vs Australia :aus: - 1 Test
1969-70
:sri: Ceylon vs England eng: - 1 Test

1972-73
:sri: Sri Lanka vs Pakistan :pak: - 1 Test
:sri: Sri Lanka vs England :eng: - 1 Test

1973-74
:eaf: East Africa vs England :eng: - 1 Test
:sri: Sri Lanka vs India :ind: - 2 Tests
:pak: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka :sri: - 2 Tests

1974-75
:sri: Sri Lanka vs West Indies :wi: - 2 Tests

1975
:eaf: East Africa vs Sri Lanka :sri: - 1 Test (in England)

1975-76
:ind: India vs Sri Lanka :sri: - 3 Tests
:sri: Sri Lanka vs Pakistan :pak: - 2 Tests

1976-77
:sri: Sri Lanka vs England :eng: - 1 Test
ENGLAND STOP BEING THE MCC AFTER 1976-77

1978-79
:sri: Sri Lanka vs West Indies :wi: - 1 Test

1979
:ire: Ireland vs Sri Lanka :sri: - 1 Test
:sco: Scotland vs Sri Lanka :sri: - 1 Test
1980-81
:sri: Sri Lanka vs Australia :aus: - 1 Test

1981
:eng: England vs Sri Lanka :sri: - 1 Test
:ned: Netherlands vs Sri Lanka :sri: - 1 Test - was two one-day games in real life

Ireland and Scotland played 77 first-class games between 1909 and 2000 - those could also be included.
1676827534453.png
 
Last edited:
65 year old Aislabie after playing 2500 Tests:
When PlanetCricket and indeed forums generally are populated by like five old dudes, and I'm still there plugging in screengrabs of tests played in Cricket Captain 2044 (the last version of the game ever made)
 
Things That Will Not End Well:

Edit: Wait, does CC even have these guys?
There are some players who for various reasons aren't in the Cricket Captain database. One example of this would be David Fulton; when a player like this comes up in the storyline, I dig up the player with the closest stats and edit their name.

There are going to be a lot of players not in the database if I end up including all these extra Tests.
 
There are some players who for various reasons aren't in the Cricket Captain database. One example of this would be David Fulton; when a player like this comes up in the storyline, I dig up the player with the closest stats and edit their name.

There are going to be a lot of players not in the database if I end up including all these extra Tests.
Awesome. I've sorta ran into a similar problem in my save; while I wasn't gonna pick him for the WI series anyway, I don't have the option of calling up John Scholes at all. I'll do what you've done if it happens again (Jamie Cox feels likely to actually get a chance in this playthrough)
 
:aus: Australia vs England :eng: - Only Test at Albert Cricket Ground, 05 Feb 1874

Australian XI (player team)
1. :aus: :ar: Nat Thompson
2. :aus: :ar: Dave Gregory
3. :aus: :wk: George Gibson
4. :aus: :bat: Charles Bannerman
5. :aus: :bat: Charles Lawrence
6. :aus: :bat: Charles Oliver
7. :aus: :bat: Charles Carr
8. :aus: :bwl: William Pocock
9. :aus: :bwl: Joseph Coates :c:
10. :aus: :bwl: Samuel Cosstick
11. :aus: :bwl: Edwin Tindall

English XI
1. :eng: :ar: WG Grace :c:
2. :eng: :bat: Henry Jupp
3. :eng: :bat: Andrew Greenwood
4. :eng: :bat: Richard Humphrey
5. :eng: :ar: Fred Grace
6. :eng: :ar: Walter Gilbert
7. :eng: :ar: William Oscroft
8. :eng: :bwl: Martin McIntyre
9. :eng: :bwl: James Lillywhite
10. :eng: :wk: James Bush
11. :eng: :bwl: James Southerton

-

England won the toss and chose to bat first

-

Two things are profoundly obvious from playing this match: the first is that Cricket Captain absolutely cannot recreate old-timey cricket on uncovered, unmaintained pitches; the second is that old-timey England were far far better than old-timey Australia.

After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, WG Grace set about filling his boots on the unrealistically flat Albert Cricket Ground wicket. He dominated the scoring in a 300-run opening partnership with Surrey's Henry Jupp. Once Grace finally lost his wicket, Jupp then took charge of another huge partnership with Andrew Greenwood. The Australian bowlers were simply powerless to stop the English batters, and their punishment ended only when WG Grace declared the innings closed.

The Australian batters couldn't play to the same standard. The very experienced Charles Lawrence was the only player to pass 50, while the wickets were shared mostly between William Oscroft and James Southerton. Lawrence top-scored again in the second innings, while the England captain gave bowling opportunities to his brother Fred Grace and to Martin McIntyre, and the medium-pace pair claimed three wickets each.

Not much to write really - this one was comprehensive.

1677081589653.png

- - -

I would however like to ask people generally if they are happy with the scores sometimes being a bit era-inappropriate like this. The first time a 600-plus score was made in real-life Test cricket was in 1925, which makes this a solid 50 years out of place. Do people mind that, or would you rather I took steps to try to avoid it happening?
 

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