Unlike modern games that focus only on internationals, Cricket 07 included deep domestic rosters: County Cricket (England), Sheffield Shield (Australia), Ranji Trophy (India), and State Shield (New Zealand). This allowed hardcore fans to grind a rookie player from county obscurity to international stardom.
While modern games focus on analog stick gestures, EA Cricket 07 for Windows perfected the "Three-tap" bowling meter. Tap to start the run-up, tap to set the power/delivery speed, and tap again for timing/direction. It was simple to learn but brutally hard to master. The game featured distinct actions for McGrath's metronomic accuracy, Warne's flutter, and Flintoff’s slinging bouncer. EA Sports Cricket 07 for Windows
"Bowling machine... Shane... Bowden."
If you read that and heard the voice of Richie Benaud in your head, you know exactly what I mean. The commentary duo of Richie Benaud and Jim Maxwell is iconic. It is crisp, informative, and wonderfully repetitive in a comforting way. Unlike modern games that focus only on internationals,
And the menu music? That upbeat, generic EA Trax rock guitar riff is permanently burned into the memory of every 90s kid. " Bowling machine