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Is virtual cricket changing the game?

by Wisden Staff July 27, 2020 - 12:10pm 3 minute read

What is virtual cricket, and could it be here to stay?

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has meant that many sports, including cricket, are on hiatus. While cricket is naturally more socially distanced than plenty of other close contact sports and past-times, there has still been significant effort made to bring cricket off the fresh-cut wickets in grounds around the world and onto our PCs and mobile phone screens.

The interest in virtual cricket has picked up greatly over the past few months, and you can enjoy it live from a variety of devices. But how does it actually work? And is it going to stick around once the real thing returns in earnest in the long run?

Virtual cricket in brief

Virtual sports have taken precedence over outdoor games during the past few months. Throughout June and July, cricket fans regularly tuned into their devices to take a look at the virtual side of the game.

Virtual cricket is basically what it says. You’re not watching a real match; instead, you are watching virtual fielders, batsmen, and bowlers. Essentially, it’s a randomised game, removing the need for actual players to take to the park.

That doesn’t mean it’s is any less exhilarating than the real thing. Yes – the buzz of being there watching real play might not be there, but in all other ways, this is just as exciting an alternative, and it’s safe too.

Is it like playing a cricket video game? Not quite. There are genuine thrills and spills in store as you still don’t know quite what’s going to happen, and don’t have the same level of control over how the action will pan out. Big teams such as India and Pakistan line up with stats similar to those they have in physical cricket and it’s calculated in play how things will pan out.

Is virtual cricket here to stay?

Most probably. We have to understand that virtual sports have been around for longer than many people might imagine. In the betting scene, for example, it is commonplace to find virtual renditions of football and horse racing.

For people who enjoy sports betting, the thrill is still there, as the potential outcome is still very much anyone’s guess. There are differences to the traditional betting scenario, but you can still make confident predictions based on stats.

The virtual game might not have the same appeal as a genuine Test match. However, it more than fills time for those enthusiastic to see matches return. We can only watch the same old matches on repeat again and again so many times!

What’s more, the virtual game may well find plenty of converts. Virtual cricket emulates the physical game very closely – there’s never likely to be any glitches or other kind of mayhem. It might not rival physical cricket in the long run, but what it does offer is safe, distanced fun.

What’s next for virtual cricket?

While everyone waits for the sporting world to get back to normal, virtual games and tournaments are likely to continue. It’s clear that tournaments online across recent times have found their fans.

The future of cricket, however, still lies on the physical pitch. Those worrying about a world where real sport is going to make way for virtual standards probably won’t need to be too concerned.

However, it’s great to see that there are big opportunities to watch virtual tournaments online. It helps to quench our thirst for authentic cricket action, and those who like betting may well find it to be a helpful outlet!

Are you getting into virtual cricket? Does it hold a candle to the real thing? Let’s see how the scene evolves in the years to come.