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[aidankelleher]

Hi guys looking for some help/tips as a captain and the one I wonder most about is on a grass wicket how should you no whether to bat or bowl first

[The_Bird]

Depends if your side chase well, if they don't always bat first. I'm always a fan of batting first unless it an absolute green road. At my level the slow low wickets tend to get harder to bat on last so even tho its been wet its still better to bat first.

Bat first and put the pressure on the chasing side, if they get them you didn't get enough runs or didn't bowl well enough.

[Buzz]

I think the question is around reading a pitch and condictions as well - i.e. is the pitch green an soft or white and hard - damp or dusty

[trypewriter]

On the other hand, if you want to eat a big tea, bat second 

[The_Bird]

On the other hand, if you want to eat a big tea, bat second 

A very crucial point..!!

[Red Ink Cricket]

Depends on the make up of the side. if its damp/wet or green and you have the bowling to utilise the wicket then bowl first. if its a road then get first use of it and bat. if its very dry then make first use of it and bat and hope it gets slower and spins later in the day as it dusts up/breaks up.

on a good standard pitch that offers a bit for both then work to your strengths. as others have said if you chase well then chase. if not set and defend

i was always told by the old guys that if a pitch was cold then it would do a bit as there was a bit of moisture in it.  it tends to be a little hit and miss with club wickets as ive played on a dark green wicket (looked shocking and we bowled first) which produced 300 plus runs a side with us narrowly missing out chasing and also played on something which looked an absolutely belter- lovely colour and rock hard, which bounced about 10cm and was so slow.

i tend to find you get used to how a wicket plays if your regularly playing the same teams. obviously weather dependant that is. i always look out for the regulars in other teams we play. we tend to know each others game pretty well so i know if their opening bowlers missing etc it could infulence the decision at the toss

[joeylough]

Also depends on what your league rules are. In my league (the captain informs me) we get more points by batting second and chasing.

Not sure why, never read the rules and I also go with the " I can have a bigger tea " I hate running after that second chocolate roll.

[Red Ink Cricket]

Also depends on what your league rules are. In my league (the captain informs me) we get more points by batting second and chasing.

Not sure why, never read the rules and I also go with the " I can have a bigger tea " I hate running after that second chocolate roll.

my league you get more points for batting first and bowling a team out rather than chasing. only works if you have the bowling to do it. so many times last year we had the opposition 7+ down and just couldnt bowl them out

[aidankelleher]

Hahaha so what I've taken so far is if there's nice tea bat second haha any more tips guys ?

[ProCricketer1982]

my league you get more points for batting first and bowling a team out rather than chasing. only works if you have the bowling to do it. so many times last year we had the opposition 7+ down and just couldnt bowl them out

More pts for batting first and then actually getting 10 wickets indicates the 'better team'.. Assuming you can play for the draw of course.

[Red Ink Cricket]

More pts for batting first and then actually getting 10 wickets indicates the 'better team'.. Assuming you can play for the draw of course.

yes but in theory its no different to bowling a side out and knocking them off. yes potentially you could bowl a side out for a low score and therefore have less to knock off but it should just be a win is a win and you get X amount of points. we can play for a draw in our leagues

[ad2606]

Depends on what your side is like in terms of ability aswell, if you've got a young team that are learning dont let them bowl first and get carted round the park week in week out, so if your league has a massive difference in points between draws and wins it can make a big difference. If your a side looking for promotion or to win a league it's sometimes best to chase, this stops a side dropping anchor and costing you points through a draw, we had one side last year who put us into bat first, we posted a good total and right from the start they weren't interested in chasing it down, we ended up getting a winning draw which gave us 16 points instead of 20 and for their efforts they got all of 1 point!

[RossViper]

bat first.

[ProCricketer1982]

Depends on what your side is like in terms of ability aswell, if you've got a young team that are learning dont let them bowl first and get carted round the park week in week out, so if your league has a massive difference in points between draws and wins it can make a big difference. If your a side looking for promotion or to win a league it's sometimes best to chase, this stops a side dropping anchor and costing you points through a draw, we had one side last year who put us into bat first, we posted a good total and right from the start they weren't interested in chasing it down, we ended up getting a winning draw which gave us 16 points instead of 20 and for their efforts they got all of 1 point!

Maybe you guys scored too many?? This is something teams are guilty of fairly regularly if they then can't get a team out. Declare earlier on a total teams WILL chase

[forester123]

Depends on what your side is like in terms of ability aswell, if you've got a young team that are learning dont let them bowl first and get carted round the park week in week out, so if your league has a massive difference in points between draws and wins it can make a big difference. If your a side looking for promotion or to win a league it's sometimes best to chase, this stops a side dropping anchor and costing you points through a draw, we had one side last year who put us into bat first, we posted a good total and right from the start they weren't interested in chasing it down, we ended up getting a winning draw which gave us 16 points instead of 20 and for their efforts they got all of 1 point!

Do you play declaration cricket?