Dear Editor,
This is an open letter to the West Indies cricket captain, Denesh Ramdin:
History shows that the team that bats last in Test cricket is more likely to lose than the team that bats first. Yet, many West Indies captains, more so than other captains, frequently choose to field first after winning the toss.
Among the disadvantages for fielding first are:
1. The team batting last often does so on a wicket that has deteriorated to such an extent that batting is more difficult.
2. After three to four days of a Test, the team batting in the fourth innings is often so mentally and physically exhausted that it is much more difficult for the batsmen to concentrate.
3. The team batting first has an enormous psychological advantage if they amass a huge total, as South Africa did in the recently concluded first Test against the West Indies. (The fielding team perceives their opponents as the likely winners, and their best hope is for a draw.)
4. Further, fielders are not under pressure for every delivery, as is the case for both batsmen at the crease, and so fielders may be less affected when fielding last. A tired bowler may also "rest", while others assume the bowling duties; exhausted batsmen have no such reprieve.
Unless the wicket, atmospheric or other conditions clearly indicate that there is an advantage in sending in the opponents, the winner of the toss should elect to bat first.
John Wilson
New York
latecut@outlook.com
In Test cricket, bat first
-->
This is an open letter to the West Indies cricket captain, Denesh Ramdin:
History shows that the team that bats last in Test cricket is more likely to lose than the team that bats first. Yet, many West Indies captains, more so than other captains, frequently choose to field first after winning the toss.
Among the disadvantages for fielding first are:
1. The team batting last often does so on a wicket that has deteriorated to such an extent that batting is more difficult.
2. After three to four days of a Test, the team batting in the fourth innings is often so mentally and physically exhausted that it is much more difficult for the batsmen to concentrate.
3. The team batting first has an enormous psychological advantage if they amass a huge total, as South Africa did in the recently concluded first Test against the West Indies. (The fielding team perceives their opponents as the likely winners, and their best hope is for a draw.)
4. Further, fielders are not under pressure for every delivery, as is the case for both batsmen at the crease, and so fielders may be less affected when fielding last. A tired bowler may also "rest", while others assume the bowling duties; exhausted batsmen have no such reprieve.
Unless the wicket, atmospheric or other conditions clearly indicate that there is an advantage in sending in the opponents, the winner of the toss should elect to bat first.
John Wilson
New York
latecut@outlook.com
In Test cricket, bat first
-->