Whatever you do, don't do this!

[Momo]

Against India in general and in India in particular, if you are lucky enough to win the toss, NEVER field first. With their superior spin bowling and pitches getting slower and slower, it should be obvious. And thats irrespective of what any "expert" may have to say (I think they fell for the curator's propaganda in the 3rd ODI).

(I know we won chasing in Mohali, but Mohali is different and that was a happy-if-it-happens-once-in-a-season kind of dream chase)

[PlanetPakistan]

You seem to be overly impressed by the Indians

Had it not been for the drop catch and poor captaincy Pakistan should have had 2 or 3 quick wickets. I want Pakistan to chase in the next match too.

[Momo]

Originally Posted by PlanetPakistan You seem to be overly impressed by the Indians

That would be over-simplifying it.

Had it not been for the drop catch and poor captaincy Pakistan should have had 2 or 3 quick wickets.

Were these two things one-offs? I mean you expect these to improve drastically in future matches? I wish one could be able to dismiss em as chance occurances that were unlikely to be repeated. I wish...

I want Pakistan to chase in the next match too.

But I want them to win.

[PlanetPakistan]

momo,

The pitch was fresh, there was a lot of early movement. Now if the fielders drop regulation catches and captain makes blunders then it doesn't mean that fielding 1st was a bad option.

If anything the captains and fielders would make MORE mistakes in the 2nd innings because the pressure in the 2nd innings is a lot more.

[Momo]

Originally Posted by PlanetPakistan momo, The pitch was fresh, there was a lot of early movement. Now if the fielders drop regulation catches and captain makes blunders then it doesn't mean that fielding 1st was a bad option. If anything the captains and fielders would make MORE mistakes in the 2nd innings because the pressure in the 2nd innings is a lot more.

PP, I dont think it is possible to say when will the fielders commit more mistakes, in the first or second innings. In my opinion, that pretty much evens out.

What doesnt even out though is the fact that our batsmen are poor at forcing the shots when the ball is not coming on to the bat. Why make it more difficult for them by batting second, when the pitch is even slower and more helpful for spinners?

Inspite of the bowlers' inconsistencies and good showing by batsmen at Mohali, I still believe that bowling is Pakistan's strength and they should put up a (hopefully) decent total and try to defend it with their strength, and not the other way around.

[the_game]

In both of the last two matches, we were chasing with a strategy in place. If it wasn't due to our incompetent kaptaan and inadequate fielding, we would have won the last ODI chasing as well since the total would have been much less for a pitch of that nature. I would like us to chase a score again in the next match.

[iZeeshan]

Chasing is what works for us, not setting a target!