Which day's Test pitch is more difficult to bat on?

[King Khan]

Batting on a 5th day cracked pitch in the sub-continent or on 1st day on a green top / cloudy SENA pitch?

I would say its a 1st day greentop / cloudy SENA pitch as fast bowlers on those types of pitches will 9/10 times get you out cheaply thus giving a huge advantage (unless those same conditions exist when you go into bat).

Plus with a cracked pitch you only really have to deal with the varied turn of the ball as opposed to the greentop/cloudy pitch where its seam, swing, pace and bounce (depending on where you are playing)

Interested to hear all your thoughts

 

[Smudger]

Both have their own challenges. But I think that a cracked pitch might be slightly tougher. As there is chances of getting a grubber which is virtually unplayable plus a cracked pitch gets worses the more you play on it.
On a green top you just have to counter swing as bounce is going to be fairly even. I think that explains why asian teams have more matches in England then vice versa

 

[jnaveen1980]

Depends. In NZ first day is so hard at times. 2nd day it will turn into an absolute belter.

 

[MenInG]

Well by what we see here on Day 1, looks like that would be the pitch to bat on when playing in Pakistan!

 

[Minnowbasher]

Depends which team is playing
Subcontinent teams would prefer day 5 cracked whereas SENA would prefer green seamer day 1.

 

[tyron_woodley]

cracked pitches day 4 and 5. toughest by far especially day 5.

 

[KP From India]

Dont think NZ would prefer green top even at their backyard against Asian teams OTOH Asian teams has some chance to chase even on day 5 subcontinent track.

 

[Saj]

Poll has been added.

 

[MMHS]

It depends on where the Test is being played. In India, it's almost always 2nd day is best for batting, while in AUS, Day two wicket often gets faster. Also, it depends on the match condition - batsmen of team with nose ahead will approach the day differently compared to team behind.

In general, in a standard contest, in terms of batting difficulty, often it'll be like (Most to least)

India/BD/SRL
Day 5> Day 4/Day 1> Day 3> Day 2

These days India is producing fast, pacers' track. But, on a typical burnt South Asian track, it's toughest to bat on day 5, day 1 & 4 are parallel, because by day 4 it starts to turn while first two hours of Day 1 is always challenging in South Asia, where Test cricket is played in winter

ENG
Day 1> Day 2/Day 5> Day 4> Day 3

It's tough in all 3 sessions of Day 1, and first session of 2nd, while day 5 often brings spinners. Typical English wicket is best for batting from Day 2 afternoon to day 4 tea

AUS/SAF
Day 5> Day 2> Day 1> Day 4> Day 3

On those hard, scratchy wickets, if the track cracks a bit, those AUS wickets are the worst on Day 5. Day 2 is slightly tougher than day 1 because it gets faster & bouncier in Day 2.

NZ
Day 1> Day 2> Day 3/Day 5> Day 4
The wickets in NZ are so typical - it helps seemers on first 4 sessions, then gradually flattens out. Day 5 offers a little more help to Day 4 because of the 4th innings pressure.


WIN is too inconsistent these days and their different venues offered completely different experience. If I take Barbados as the representative of WIN, in olden days

Day 1/Day 5> Day 2> Day 4> Day 3
It was like very typical English green wickets, with only difference is that by Day 5, spinners also come into play in WIN, much more than UK. And, cracks open up like AUS tracks. Day 3 & 4 are probably the best day for batting.

Personally, I like AUS wickets most because it offers something for everyone and all 22 players can come into equation over 5 days. In an even contest, Captains probably most confused after winning toss in AUS - bat first, you might go to 1st Tea at 141/7; bowl first - you might face target of 343 at 4th Tea.

I put it in other way - which venue gives the highest value of winning toss (In an even contest - last time one toss was won by both Captains of PAK & AUS, Aussies won both Test by innings....)

1. IND/BD/SRL - win toss & bat first, you got at least 100 runs handicap for a head start
2. NZ - win toss & bowl first, you have to play really poor not to win from there on
3. ENG/WIN - you can bowl first, but make sure that you have taken at least 3 by first lunch
4. AUS/SAF - doesn't matter if you bat first or second, you have to play well and play positive, play by sessions AND MUST hold on to your catches. I have seen Captains looking fool at stumps of Day 1 after taking a call at toss, which that time looked perfectly logical.

 

[tyron_woodley]

It depends on where the Test is being played. In India, it's almost always 2nd day is best for batting, while in AUS, Day two wicket often gets faster. Also, it depends on the match condition - batsmen of team with nose ahead will approach the day differently compared to team behind.

In general, in a standard contest, in terms of batting difficulty, often it'll be like (Most to least)

India/BD/SRL
Day 5> Day 4/Day 1> Day 3> Day 2

These days India is producing fast, pacers' track. But, on a typical burnt South Asian track, it's toughest to bat on day 5, day 1 & 4 are parallel, because by day 4 it starts to turn while first two hours of Day 1 is always challenging in South Asia, where Test cricket is played in winter

ENG
Day 1> Day 2/Day 5> Day 4> Day 3

It's tough in all 3 sessions of Day 1, and first session of 2nd, while day 5 often brings spinners. Typical English wicket is best for batting from Day 2 afternoon to day 4 tea

AUS/SAF
Day 5> Day 2> Day 1> Day 4> Day 3

On those hard, scratchy wickets, if the track cracks a bit, those AUS wickets are the worst on Day 5. Day 2 is slightly tougher than day 1 because it gets faster & bouncier in Day 2.

NZ
Day 1> Day 2> Day 3/Day 5> Day 4
The wickets in NZ are so typical - it helps seemers on first 4 sessions, then gradually flattens out. Day 5 offers a little more help to Day 4 because of the 4th innings pressure.


WIN is too inconsistent these days and their different venues offered completely different experience. If I take Barbados as the representative of WIN, in olden days

Day 1/Day 5> Day 2> Day 4> Day 3
It was like very typical English green wickets, with only difference is that by Day 5, spinners also come into play in WIN, much more than UK. And, cracks open up like AUS tracks. Day 3 & 4 are probably the best day for batting.

Personally, I like AUS wickets most because it offers something for everyone and all 22 players can come into equation over 5 days. In an even contest, Captains probably most confused after winning toss in AUS - bat first, you might go to 1st Tea at 141/7; bowl first - you might face target of 343 at 4th Tea.

I put it in other way - which venue gives the highest value of winning toss (In an even contest - last time one toss was won by both Captains of PAK & AUS, Aussies won both Test by innings....)

1. IND/BD/SRL - win toss & bat first, you got at least 100 runs handicap for a head start
2. NZ - win toss & bowl first, you have to play really poor not to win from there on
3. ENG/WIN - you can bowl first, but make sure that you have taken at least 3 by first lunch
4. AUS/SAF - doesn't matter if you bat first or second, you have to play well and play positive, play by sessions AND MUST hold on to your catches. I have seen Captains looking fool at stumps of Day 1 after taking a call at toss, which that time looked perfectly logical.

in australia you have to win the toss and vat first.

 

[MMHS]

in australia you have to win the toss and vat first.

I actually have said that - day 2 & 5 are toughest for batting means you bat first. But then, you have to bat well in day 1. These days there are too many one sided games in Australia, but some of the best Ashes wins have come batting second there, in Frank Worell trophy as well.

 

[Devadwal]

Centurion test pitch between india and South Africa is very difficult for 1st day batting.

 

[AAli98]

Centurion test pitch between india and South Africa is very difficult for 1st day batting.

Indians are icc pitch doctoring champions (as per icc report recently in the World Cup) it’s a shame Dravid & sharma had no say in this pitch.

 

[Devadwal]

Indians are icc pitch doctoring champions (as per icc report recently in the World Cup) it’s a shame Dravid & sharma had no say in this pitch.

Lol Indian team and fan are never cry about pitch .

 

[The Bald Eagle]

It's always difficult to bat on 5th day. Many great teams have collapsed on the 5th day.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

If it's WACA even the first day pitch becomes a nightmare for the batsmen

no one really wants to bat on the day 5 wicket of WACA Perth because of their massive cracks.