The most rigorous mode involves signing up as captain of an English county side and trying to earn the honor of captaining the national team in the World Cup. If the idea of qualifying doesn't quite grab you, this can be selected as an option from the very beginning. This does forfeit your right to the Hall of Fame, however. Either way, you have 20 years with which to play with. Players age, so you'll have to make careful use of the transfer system to stay competitive in the long run.
Contests pause for lunch, tea, change of innings, and the close of play for the day.
Career modes are single-player only, although individual matches can be contested by two players on the same machine. Check out the handsome Essex star above. Bowler aggression can be set high in an attempt to take as many wickets as possible, or lowered in an attempt to finesse batters out. His line can also be established as inside, middle, or outside. Your field adjusts automatically to your bowler preferences, although player positioning can also be edited on the fly and saved.