To bat or not

Cricket is the only sport where a coin can decide the fate of a game particularly in a limited overs game when the quick bowlers get a huge advantage due to the pitch and weather conditions. On the opposite end when a spin heaps during the second half a game again winning or losing the toss matters.

The English who introduced this game to the world had this to say about winning the toss: “win the toss, think about inserting the opposition into bat, think again, think yet again about doing it and then decide to bat first!” Mind you, this was the way of thinking when pitches were not covered and the game was played on soft sticky surfaces. Although pitches are covered now, it has not made the decision any easier.

There are a number of factors to be taken into account. The first and most important is the pitch itself. At almost all times ground authorities make every effort to make on day pitches to suit batsmen. Simply because spectators like watching plenty of runs being scored in a day. Of course at times the recipe goes wrong and bowlers have their day.

It is in the longer games that reading the pitch as accurately as possible becomes important. The hardness, the quantity of water (moisture) that seems to be present, the presence or absence of grass. Should there be grass, then how hush is it? The presence of cracks, the flatness or evenness of the surface are all factors to be taken in to account.

It is good to get the opinion of the groundsman or the curator about the preparation that has gone into the pitch. Provided the person diverts information that matters, it could have an effect on what decision to take. Recent results, scores, decisions take on winning the toss, the success rate in batting or second are all factors to take into consideration.Then the strengths and weaknesses of the two teams have got to be looked into. Should the pitch have the characteristics of helping seam bowling and is firm on top too and your team has four good quickies, then inserting the opposition become worthwhile, to seize an early advantage.

On the other hand should a team’s strength be in the spin department then bowling fourth on wearing pitch condition will help the cause. The decision should be made based on the advantage the bowlers can seize through the game. It is the bowlers who win matches and therefore to determine correctly at what stage they can secure an advantage is the key. Similar assessments of the opposition is also a factor to look at.

In countries such as England, New Zealand, the weather and atmospheric conditions must be taken into consideration particularly when playing during mid to late spring and early summer due to overcast conditions the ball will move in the air. That reduces when the sun pierces through the clouds.

Sri Lanka’s decision to bat first in their ongoing test against New Zealand has raised eyebrows and critics have expressed the view it was the wrong decision made by Mahela Jayawardena. The decision would have been taken by the senior players, coach, perhaps even the Manager all pooling their ideas. In this matter the captain is praised or blamed for the ultimate decision!

In their last two test outings against South Africa at home, the Sri Lankans batted second and ended on the winning side. In the first test they grabbed the advantage dismissing South Africa for 169 runs running up a mammoth score and putting their opponents out of the game. In the second test they chased 352 runs and were victorious. Batting second did help on both occasions.

Winning the toss and batting means a score in excess of 300 must be totalled. The reverse means dismissing the opposition for under 200 runs. In the final analysis Sri Lanka did not achieve their target by batting first against New Zealand and in fact presented the advantage to the home team.