Electing to chase on true batting surfaces in ICC tournaments

[jnaveen1980]

India did that in WC 2003 final. India did that in CT 2017 final. In this world cup. South Africa thought they could restrict BD on a flat wicket. Today England did the same. Unless the pitch is green and conditions are overcast even against the weakest team you should bat first. Pakistan, Srilanka collapse threw other teams off to thinking that all Asian teams will collapse regardless of any pitch. Paid the penalty. First Bangladesh penalized them severely. Then Pakistan today taught them a hard lesson.

 

[dhump]

I think today's decision was based on Pakistans performance in the last match. We know how bad Pakistan is in chasing and with these high scoring wickets I would always prefer them batting first or they will crush under the pressure of chasing a high score.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Very good thread. Chasing a big score is not easy even in bilaterals let alone in an ICC where there is added pressure. You bat first and score around 350 and let your bowlers and scoreboard pressure do it's work. Kohli, Faf and Morgan all paid the price for their stupidity.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Another team goes down after electing to field first. Relatively simple chase. Multiple times was in winning position. Somehow contrived to lose.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Teams continue making the same mistake AGAIN and AGAIN.

 

[jnaveen1980]

They never learn do they? lol Nobody in the right mind will insert Australia in.

 

[Kianig89]

Teams are afraid of early juice in the wicket maybe and lack depth in batting trying to capitalize the early advantage but. In world tourneys and crunch games play to your strength like in football teams usually don't change their formation 4-5-1 so be it regardless of pther playing 3-4-you just need to tinker your positions

 

[jnaveen1980]

Hope India doesn't do the same mistake. You could make life difficult for opposition even while defending 200. But if you concede 300 plus you are pretty much out of the game from the get go.

 

[Hasan123]

Putting runs on the board seems to be the way to go in this WC. The pressure of chasing in a WC game seems too much for most teams.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Another captain is doing the same mistake. wow they keep coming.

 

[Hus]

The question of Bowling first

What makes a captain bowl first. With todays pitches and rules and all, there is no need to take the disadvantage by having to chase. Just say the word ‘chase’ again in your head and you’ll realize you’re already starting behind.

Something always stuck with me, I remember this one game where Flintoff was captaining the English team (standing in for someone injured) and he said after winning the toss ‘The grass would have to be knee high for me to bowl first.’ And that’s it! It’s such a simple equation. The pitch, the most vital environmental component that once affected the game has been neutralized in the name of creating more excitement.

Having said all that what went through Sarfaraz’s head and with all the team discussions for him to pick to field in both todays and Australias game? I would think if you’re already thinking about the weather, something you’re not in control of, you’re already not believing/backing yourselves to be good enough to take the advantage and run with it. That’s just weak.

 

[Justcrazy]

It was brainless decision.

You would opt to bowl first when there is lot of movement , also if you have quality bowlers who can make ball talk. Unfortunately , Pakistan does not have a Wasim Akram , Richard Haddle or MacGrath in there ranks.

 

[UP]

We are horrible chasers and we decided to chase in a do/die match against arch rivals. We dropped a batsman, picked two spinners against India of all teams, strengthened our bowling and decided to chase.We wanted to chase with 4-5 batsmen. Mashallah.

Had we limped our way to 280-300 batting first, it would have been game on.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Only team in this world cup that must opt to bowl first in cloudy conditions is New zealand. Rest of the team don't have that kind of potency to exploit cloudy conditions. Boult is the only guy who can do that.

 

[jnaveen1980]

My guess. India was without Dhawan. New opener. They thought they could just run through the top order. Also expected rain in the evening messed them up. But regardless of rain i always wanted to India bat first. Thankfully we lost hte toss. Otherwise Kohli would have cluelessly fielded first.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Let us see what happens today. Another team chasing 300 plus after electing to field first. Let us see how BD handles this chase.

 

[Arsalan Pro]

Looks like it's always a good toss to lose here in England, as everyone initially thinks it as a bowl first wicket only to back fire in the end.