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[imogzyboy]

Following a different post, I wanted to ask a question!

You have 8-9 players 3 very good bowlers and some decent batsmen capable of runs, you win the toss, what would you do if you know you have less players than them? I'm certainly thinking bat first my reason would be to try and pay a big total so it's all in the oppositions head. But what would you do?

[jamielsn15]

For me, it depends on what the opposition have got.  Presuming this is a league game and you know the side you're playing and their strengths, when you have 8-9 players (as we did a couple of weeks ago) you act according to those. 

Its all very well saying you don't worry about the opposition, but I feel you have to with less players.  To use my actual scenario, we won the toss and batted with 9, inc. 2 mates of players, who were hardly capable cricketers.  Got to 140-odd all out and although we had them 60-6, they got to the target with 3 wickets to spare.  On average we lost 30 runs from having 2 less players and probably another 40 in the field, not to mention the psychological effect of having less players.  Overall, two evenly matched sides who we would have beaten with our full side.  We were two bats and a bowler short.

We had 2 decent bowlers (as 60-6 suggests) and 3-4 capable of scoring runs, of which two hit 30 and 50-odd.  Similar to your hypothesis and it turned out close.  So I'd look at what the opposition have got...

[19reading87]

We are the same position tomorrow but against top of the league!!

[joeljonno]

I'd always bat first. Nothing worse that chasing leather all afternoon due to gaps in the field.

What points are on offer?  Win/draw/batting/bowling etc.

[ammo]

If pich and weather Permits
I would always bat first when you are down in players. Post a total and then get stuck into them.

[joeylough]

All depends what you think. I captained a work t20 match (so not to many overs to run around for) we had 9 and I chose to field first. This was due to us knowing that we would lose the qtr final due to having 9 and I gave everyone a bowl. Apart from one guy who was having a mare and me who was keeping. Then I messed around with the order so everyone got a bat.

Lost the game, but everyone enjoyed it.

[stevat]

Batting first is somewhat pessimistic, but given the circumstances is a necessity in my opinion.  Shortens the misery if it all goes wrong too.

[Vulcan Cricket]

depends what the league points system is ie points for bowling ie wickets and points for batting if i was skipper and had 9 i would look at the team you are playing what are they like are they a strong team are they batting or bowling team then look at the wicket and go from there  . but all in all if you get bouns points for batting and bowling i would try to get max bowling points and as many batting points as you can so bowl frist as how many times have 9 beat 11 ? not loads