How can teams plan 250-260 type of chases better in 4th innings?

[KP From India]

I know its hard chasing in 4th innings if there is even a little help for bowlers in the wicket. Teams rarely chase 300 scores in tests.
But what should be the method/formula chasing teams can adapt for the totals of 260s because these are not impossible totals to chase.
What can be done differently?

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Pray to God.

 

[Ami]

Haha...

 

[Dead Ball]

Solid opening partnerships, and a tail that can last 150-200 balls. Remember Sehwag's onslaught in Chennai 2008?

And that's exactly why I don't see India winning this match. It's a given that we start every batting inning at 15/2 and our lower order can't even last 50 balls combined.

 

[last_knight]

TEST format tests you.
How you plan 4th innings ; well you implement it in your 1st innings.

 

[Saurav]

Injure every opposition bowler in 3rd innings

 

[Robert]

I know its hard chasing in 4th innings if there is even a little help for bowlers in the wicket. Teams rarely chase 300 scores in tests.
But what should be the method/formula chasing teams can adapt for the totals of 260s because these are not impossible totals to chase.
What can be done differently?

Just go session by session. Decide on a target of runs scored verses wickets lost by the end of the session. See off the new ball then milk the lesser bowlers. If the plan fails, entrench for a bit and make a new plan.

 

[Abdullah]

Thats unit is imperative to maximise runs in the first innings.
The 2 guys that get in, need to take it upon themselves really. That is easiest. Just bat time, keep the score out of it.

 

[Buffet]

Openers putting big partnership or having a big one early.

 

[Hasan123]

Playing positively. That will force the captain to set defensive fields. Crease occupation won't work as a ball will have your name on it eventually .

But in this modern era, not many teams will chase over 200 in 4th innings.

 

[Swashbuckler]

1. Openers have to click, at least see off the brand new cherry and lay a decent platform.
2. Middle order has to do the bulk of the work, 1 of them has to play the innings of his life.
3. Tail has to show grit, if need be offer support to the main batsman rather than 5 minute picnics in the middle. Make the opponent captain try to pick wickets at both ends.
4. Pray for luck and I can't emphasize this enough. So many perfectly executed run chases have fallen short because of this crucial element.
5. Last 20% of the runs are the most difficult, eg in a 250 chase, divide the run chase into 2 parts, 1st 200 and then last 50 and both should get equal weightage. You need to maximize the focus in the finishing stretch, often batting teams lose their heads when target is in sight.
6. No soft dismissals and silly run outs, make the opponents earn every single wicket, nerves affect both sides equally.
7. Play your natural game. The sight of Sachin stonewalling in 4th innings chases irritates me to this day. Never change character.

 

[Justcrazy]

Play your natural game . Do not think much about pitch or the fact that it is 5 th day pitch.

Play the ball on merit and as late as possible. If the ball is there to be hit , just go for it , no half hearted efforts.

 

[ind_win]

graeme smith's career is probably one of the ones to follow for an opener.
He was aggressive and took calculated risks never feared for failure.
Of course, he had a team like that - which is another matter.
I think he would have played the way he did even without that team.

Always on the offensive.
Target one bowler, hit the hell out of his bowling.
Create fear among the strike bowler of the opponent team - this might increase chances of success.

Unfortunately, both vijay and rahul are unfit to last and get into defensive mindsets.
It is like India has 3 pujaras in the top three - only the 3rd one is good.

Scoreboard does not move, but wicket count does.

 

[MMHS]

I think, key to chase any target is scoring rate; side chasing must reduce the target alarmingly enough for bowling side to create a fear. For a target of 250+ it's essential that team should look to chase the target before 2nd ball.

Not in 4th innings, but I wrote something similar on IND's first innings - 170-3 is a great position, but not after 70 overs as the 2nd ball is just 10 overs away, which was exactly the case. In 2nd innings as well, whatever Aussies set (realistic, obviously 300+ is a different issue) below 300, IND must plan to chase that inside 80 overs. Openers playing well, partnership... these are basic rule, not tactics - even 150-160 can be tricky if openers leave before double digit of first 4-5 wickets go down after every 20-25 runs - 90/4 is not a safe position chasing even 170ish target.