Codemaster's Brian Lara International Cricket 2007 will be the first cricket game to offer online multiplayer when it hits stores on March 2007.

Brian Lara International Cricket 2007 will offer extensive online play on both Xbox 360 and PC and feature a variety of multiplayer options for up to four players on the PlayStation 2.

On Xbox 360, Xbox Live gameplay will deliver multiplayer tournaments, including the ICC World Cup 2007 and ICC Champions Trophy 2006, leagues, exhibition and warm up matches. Xbox Live leader boards and specific achievements, such as scoring a century, or winning a match at every ground in the game, will enable players to gain gaming points. Less scrupulous players will also be able to “sledge” their opponents over Xbox Live voice chat, adding a touch of psychology to proceedings and immersing the player deeper still into the match experience. Or you could just chat politely about the weather.

On PC, Brian Lara International Cricket 2007 will support LAN games and online play, again offering multiplayer leagues, tournaments such as the ICC World Cup 2007 and ICC Champions Trophy 2006, exhibition and warm up matches.

On both Xbox 360 and PC, up to 16-player simultaneous multiplayer tournaments will be possible, including the ICC-licensed events. Should you wish to just sit back and take in a game, there’s even a feature that enables up to eight spectators to watch an intense game of cricket develop before them.

Says John Jennings, Executive Producer of Brian Lara International Cricket 2007: “We’re proud that Brian Lara International Cricket 2007 is again raising the bar for cricket video games by being the first and only title in the genre to offer full online play on Xbox 360 and PC. It’s something that the fans of the sport have been crying out for; we’ve listened and we’re only too happy to be the first able to deliver. It’s been exciting and challenging but, through the efforts of our in-house cricket team, we’re once more looking to set the a new standard for cricket video gaming.”

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In featuring the ICC Champions Trophy 2006 and the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 as officially licensed events, Brian Lara International Cricket 2007 will come complete with player names and likenesses of all the stars of international cricket.

With in-game commentary from established cricket experts Jonathan Agnew, David Gower, Ian Bishop, Bill Lawry and Tony Greig, real player stats from Wisden and featuring the Hawkeye analysis system, Brian Lara International Cricket 2007 will deliver the most authentic cricket gaming experience. Pad up and prepare for the game’s arrival next March, coinciding with the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007, for Xbox 360, PC and PlayStation 2.