Armchair sports fans or strategy freaks. Call them what you will. One of the most prosperous products a mail order company could ever produce is a sports strategy game. Most of the majors have kept out of this genre (only Addictive Games continue), but what they're missing is one of the most dedicated and loyal computer gaming groups in the UK. Some of us dream of managing our own favourite soccer, American football or cricket team and with the aid of your Spectrum it's possible for your dreams to come true - well, almost. Ace sportsman and all round sports fan PHIL KING takes a look at the top sports strategy games around at the moment.

TEST MASTER
Producer: E & J
Price: £8.95

If you think one day cricket is boring (which I don't!) then you'd better avoid Test Master, again from E & J. The game is very similar to Cricket Master but is a simulation of a complete five day test match. The game is just like going to see every day of a test match - inevitably tedium soon sets in.

Most options are identical to those in Cricket Master. An extra feature allows you to declare your score if you're winning and running short of time. There is also a light meter; if the light gets too dim, the batting side can choose to stop play till it improves.

There are six and a half computer hours of playing time per day and this is reduced after each over, depending on how fast the bowler is. The game takes absolutely ages to play and, like the real thing, is a lot less exciting than one day cricket.