Today, Home Entertainment Suppliers and Big Ant Studios announced the release date for the "hotly anticipated" Don Bradman  Cricket 17. The date? December 22nd, at least for PS4 and Xbox One, if you're on PC you will have to wait until sometime in January. Notably, this year's entry includes for the the first time ever: female players.

The following elevator pitch accompanies the announcement:

Throughout Don Bradman Cricket 17, players will have access to the most authentic and realistic cricket game of all time. Featuring fully motion-captured players, stadium, player, team and logo creator modes, and for the first time in a cricket game, female players, this year’s game offers cricket fans dozens upon dozens of hours of precise, accurate gameplay.

Big Ant Studios CEO, Ross Symons added the following:

“We have built completely new batting, bowling and fielding mechanics based on player feedback. With Don Bradman 17 releasing right in the heart of the Aussie cricket season, we’re looking forward to players recreating the classic moments of the summer of cricket in their homes. We were overwhelmed by the success of our first run at Don Bradman Cricket,” Symons added. “To this day players from around the world play it daily, whether they are simulating their favorite test team matchups, or playing games with as little as one over each side. We think they’re going to love the enhanced career mode, refined on-field mechanics, and enhanced visuals and animation. After all, many of the changes came as a direct result of feedback from our most dedicated fans.”

The game is available both digitally and at retail for $60 USD. Preorders are live.