4 Reasons Why the Simulated Reality League Is So Popular With Cricket Fans

The ICC Cricket World Cup in 2019 was watched by over 1.6 billion people, making it the most watched cricket event in history. Those staggering figures are testament to just how popular the sport is today. In fact, it’s become so in-demand that a simulated alternative is satiating the appetite of fans when real matches are not available.

Step forward the Simulated Reality League (SRL), which uses real teams, real players and real data from their actual on-field performances to create artificial match-ups. Aficionados of the game can tune in and bet on the outcome, which has proven to be an absolute hit with both cricket nuts and gambling enthusiasts. Here are just some of the reasons why it’s here to stay.

Authenticity

Despite being driven by artificial intelligence, the SRL is as close to real cricket as it’s possible to be. That’s because all of the data which goes into deciding the outcomes of the simulated matches is 100% real, amassed over a lengthy period of time and analyzed by the sophisticated software of the game. The rules of the sport are followed to a tee, making it as authentic an experience as it can be.

Gameplay

Just as the various components of the SRL mirror those in real life as closely as possible, so too does the matchday experience. Fans of the sport can follow the action on a ball-by-ball basis, tracking stats in real-time and laying in-play wagers based upon how the game is unfolding. The only minor tweak is that breaks in play and other delays have been curtailed, meaning that a T20 game which would last over three hours in real life lasts just two hours in the SRL. Efficient.

Dependability

However, SRL fans can rely on the league not to let them down. A clear case in point of this USP has been highlighted over the last 18 months or so, when the upheaval caused by the coronavirus saw the Indian Premier League suspended indefinitely. All of a sudden, cricket fans were at a loss to get their fix of the sport – until the SRL came to the rescue. Whether it’s a global pandemic or an extreme weather event, unforeseen anomalies have no impact upon whether the SRL takes place. It always does, without fail.

Unpredictability

Last but not least, the SRL still manages to retain the same levels of uncertainty and excitement as the real thing. Even though the outcomes are all based on data, they’re simulations of what could happen, as opposed to mere interpretations of what has happened. This means that even the same data will provide variations each time the simulation is run; those discrepancies could be as small as a few missed balls or as large as a completely different score line. As such, the game remains unpredictable and entertaining for those tuning in.

The simulated reality league might be regarded by some as a fad, but rest assured it’s hugely popular with cricket fans and shows no sign of going anywhere anytime soon.