blazer-glory
Club Cricketer
As Im new to cricket there are many things I dont really quite understand about it and one of them is why its sometimes better to bat/bowl first if your've won the toss. (?)
Batting/Bowling first??
- Thread starter blazer-glory
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Pak_cricketer
Chairman of Selectors
Well depending on the pitch (Field).
If the field has some moisture in it, the bowlers will gain a advantage because the bowl will move in the air. Also If its a Green pitch the bowlers also get an advantage early on. So the team who wins the toss either bats, or bowls. Depending on the situation. If th team is relying on its batting, I think the team bowls first. As India, but if they are relying on their bowling (Pakistan) they will bat first.
If the field has some moisture in it, the bowlers will gain a advantage because the bowl will move in the air. Also If its a Green pitch the bowlers also get an advantage early on. So the team who wins the toss either bats, or bowls. Depending on the situation. If th team is relying on its batting, I think the team bowls first. As India, but if they are relying on their bowling (Pakistan) they will bat first.
sohum
Executive member
There are many, many, many factors that determine this decision. And since there are so many factos, there are even more combinations for making decisions. One major factor, however, is day-night games. Teams tend to prefer batting second on day-night games because it is harder to grip the ball (because of dew) in the night. However, the pitch can also slow down because of the same, and reverse this decision.
To get a good idea, watch the pitch report before a game--they will usually be pretty good in explaining why a side would want to bat first or field first.
To get a good idea, watch the pitch report before a game--they will usually be pretty good in explaining why a side would want to bat first or field first.
squiz
International Coach
In the VB Series that just passed all but one match were day-nighters and in nearly every game in which the toss was won, the team chose to bat.
Welcome to the game 
The others explained it pretty well. Some teams are better at posting (Australia) some are better at chasing (New Zealand) it can depend on the bowling and batting attacks, etc.
That can be a factor but usually the captain will go by the pitch type, weather and other small factors. If the pitch looks like it has some movement in it or if its overcast the captain might want to bowl first to make best use of the conditions and get wickets.
The others explained it pretty well. Some teams are better at posting (Australia) some are better at chasing (New Zealand) it can depend on the bowling and batting attacks, etc.
That can be a factor but usually the captain will go by the pitch type, weather and other small factors. If the pitch looks like it has some movement in it or if its overcast the captain might want to bowl first to make best use of the conditions and get wickets.
Explain that to me. Why will the ball move in the air if the pitch is green. Only the overhead conditions will determine that. The pitch determines how the ball will behave after hitting the pitch, ie. it will seam on a green wicket and spin on a dusty one.Pak_cricketer said:
I reckon, generally, in day ODI's, if in doubt, bowl. In tests or day-nighters, if in doubt, bat.
In the current state of the ODI game there seems to be a significant advantage to knowing a) what the pitch is like and b) what run rate you require to win. In a day game, if the pitch is not too nasty, the side batting first usually needs at least 260 - 300 to win (depending on the pitch). Anything lower will be chased down, especially by attacking sides. The only time the 1st batters win with less than 260 odd is when they get a lot of early wickets or bowl the opposition out, which is a lot more likely in a day-nighter.
(This is why I would argue the tossing system needs to change. Take the last two India - Pakistan ODI series for example. Won and lost largely by a little piece of metal not by any players on the field! (Not to detract from any of those excellent players).)
As for tests, the toss is just as important but for different reasons. Most tests are won by the side batting first, especially if the teams are evenly matched. Basically it's the play off between atmosphere and pitch which decides it. Pitches normally end up helping bowlers on the last day, and are most batsman friendly on the first. However they sometimes peak on the second or third days if they are very green and bouncy on the first and dry out as time passes. This depends on the humidity of the air, which also helps swing bowling! So basically if sunny bat, if humid bowl.
In the current state of the ODI game there seems to be a significant advantage to knowing a) what the pitch is like and b) what run rate you require to win. In a day game, if the pitch is not too nasty, the side batting first usually needs at least 260 - 300 to win (depending on the pitch). Anything lower will be chased down, especially by attacking sides. The only time the 1st batters win with less than 260 odd is when they get a lot of early wickets or bowl the opposition out, which is a lot more likely in a day-nighter.
(This is why I would argue the tossing system needs to change. Take the last two India - Pakistan ODI series for example. Won and lost largely by a little piece of metal not by any players on the field! (Not to detract from any of those excellent players).)
As for tests, the toss is just as important but for different reasons. Most tests are won by the side batting first, especially if the teams are evenly matched. Basically it's the play off between atmosphere and pitch which decides it. Pitches normally end up helping bowlers on the last day, and are most batsman friendly on the first. However they sometimes peak on the second or third days if they are very green and bouncy on the first and dry out as time passes. This depends on the humidity of the air, which also helps swing bowling! So basically if sunny bat, if humid bowl.
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