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[Wedge2408]

Hi everyone,
I was just curious to see what peoples thoughts were on certain gameday choices and situations.
For example, in my game tomorrow my side has a strong batting line up, everyone in the side is a capable bat, but we only have a few genuine bowlers. Would you opt to bat first and hopefully set a large enough total that the bowlers can defend, or the opposite, bowl first and back the batters to chase down whatever the opposition make?
Thanks

[ProCricketer1982]

Bat first. Always go with your strongest suit (pitch conditions dependant of course). Aim to score 280+ (300 being the magic number) and then teams are under so much pressure (assuming your playing win/lose cricket) that batsmen have no choice but to hit out and WILL get out (barring the odd good day for someone). Just get the bowlers hitting the wicket.. play you miss I hit cricket.. set the field deep and just say.. 'go on then, now what you going to do'..

It's boring cricket btu you'd win.

Most teams who have to chase 300+ 99.9% of the time will be out before they reach 140!

[Wedge2408]

Thanks mate, I was thinking pretty much the exact same thing. I was just curious if anyone would do it differently.
Anyways hopefully it works and we post a big total 

[ProCricketer1982]

Some people like chasing though. I personally prefer to know my target and then I can 'pace' my innings etc. It's just a matter of thinking about all the different aspects on the day.. Strength of your batting.. bowling.. fielding, the pitch, the weather.. do you need full batting points (if you do then you need to bat first) etc etc.

Oh.. and the strength of the oppos.. maybe they are a good chasing team (ie win most of the games they bat second) yet lose most games they bat first.. etc etc.

[RightArmRapid]

Some people like chasing though. I personally prefer to know my target and then I can 'pace' my innings etc. It's just a matter of thinking about all the different aspects on the day.. Strength of your batting.. bowling.. fielding, the pitch, the weather.. do you need full batting points (if you do then you need to bat first) etc etc.

Oh.. and the strength of the oppos.. maybe they are a good chasing team (ie win most of the games they bat second) yet lose most games they bat first.. etc etc.

Old skipper never batted first if he won the toss, some (No Swearing Please) about having faith in our bowlers to bowl out the oppo cheaply. I don't really like bowling the first over of a match...sometimes i lack the confidence. Always prefer to know what i need to do based on our total!

[ProCricketer1982]

Old skipper never batted first if he won the toss, some (No Swearing Please) about having faith in our bowlers to bowl out the oppo cheaply. I don't really like bowling the first over of a match...sometimes i lack the confidence. Always prefer to know what i need to do based on our total!

haha, have you done a 'harmy' on your first ball???

[RightArmRapid]

haha, have you done a 'harmy' on your first ball???

Forgive me for missing the pun? >.< I can be slow when it comes to jokes.

[ProCricketer1982]

Forgive me for missing the pun? >.< I can be slow when it comes to jokes.

Ashes 2006/7, Steve Harmisson opening the bowling for Eng in the first test... Decided to bowl the ball at Freddie who was at second slip.

You said you didn't like bowling the first over of the day etc.. I wondered if it's because you feared doing something like that. amusing but also horrible for a bowler.

[jblowe]

I agree with ProCricker1982, do what you do best first.  score as may runs as you can then set up to defend the score.  Set the right field for your bowlers. Job done!!!

My team is a team full of bowlers, we only ever bat first if we are playing a weak team and want to make a game out of it.  this was our downfall last year.

Good luck, let us know how you get on. 

Also if your league has a website please post it so we can follow your season.

[RightArmRapid]

Ashes 2006/7, Steve Harmisson opening the bowling for Eng in the first test... Decided to bowl the ball at Freddie who was at second slip.

You said you didn't like bowling the first over of the day etc.. I wondered if it's because you feared doing something like that. amusing but also horrible for a bowler.

I just don't feel i can put the batsman under pressure from ball 1 without knowledge of the pitch and a proper warm up.

[ProCricketer1982]

I just don't feel i can put the batsman under pressure from ball 1 without knowledge of the pitch and a proper warm up.

fair one. I don't bowl but it's also the main reason I refuse to open (unless it's a sunday and the rest of the team are younger lads etc). I hate not knowing what the bowling is going to be like and what the pitch is like etc.

[Wedge2408]

Just thought I'd give an update on my game today.
It was a one day match. I lost the toss and the opposition batted first. We managed to restrict them to 153 and in reply we finished 5/169 off 36 overs.
A very pleasing result

[jblowe]

well done.  Sounds like your bowlers were not as bad as you thought.

[Buzz]

Just thought I'd give an update on my game today.
It was a one day match. I lost the toss and the opposition batted first. We managed to restrict them to 153 and in reply we finished 5/169 off 36 overs.
A very pleasing result

I still don't understand why you don't stop and have a beer when you get to 154 and the game is won!

[Ayrtek Cricket]

i agree that makes absolutely no sense!

bit like the 4 ball double hat tricks lol