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It's just not cricket, is it? For a start there's no arcade action. This is pure management, and even then there's not that many options.

First, pick one of seven cricketing countries (no Zimbabwe or South Africa here) for you and the computer opponent. Then select your eleven from a squad of real batsmen, bowlers and all-rounders - all the relevant stats are shown for both test and first-class matches.

You can now choose from three lengths of tour (either at home or abroad). All include a combination of one-day, three-day and full test matches. The batting side gets to select the opening batsmen, while the fielding side picks two starting bowlers and the full fielding order (with the wicket-keeper at number 11).

So far so good. However, the match representation will come as a surprise to cricket fans normally used to spending a whole afternoon watching sedate action. Most of the time, the scoreboard just whizzes away like mad, only stopping for the odd match highlight with 'live TV coverage'. Sadly, the TV station concerned must be on a tighter budget than BBC2. There's no tiny cameras in the stumps here, not even the standard elevated behind-the-bowler view. Instead, the delivery is shown side-on, resulting in one of three outcomes: the ball is hit for a six, it's caught, or the batsman is bowled out. There's just no variety at all and the flick-screen graphics look worse than Goochie's designer stubble.

All this would be just about acceptable if there was some sort of tactical depth.

I am not familiar with these new-fangled computer games, but I was told World Cricket would bowl me over. Sadly it had me pulling my beard in frustration within minutes. I quite enjoyed picking my eleven from the modern-day players (even though they're hardly gentlemen), but after that the game was on a very sticky wicket indeed.

The scoreboard flashes away like a streaker at Lords (we never had them in my day... shame!) without the players actually doing anything, apart from in the odd highlight. Not only did I have the frustration of not playing one of my legendary innings. I couldn't contribute any of my captaining skills either. It's enough to make me turn in my grave!

Presentation 78%
Seven teams, three tours, full player stats.

Graphics 29%
Very crude highlights with splodgy players.

Sound 9%
Awful white-noise effects - and not a lot else!

Hookability 23%
Picking teams is good, but there's little else to do.

Lastability 18%
Total lack of tactical depth bowls it out.

Overall 20%