You're the Captain - what would you do!

[mas cambios]

You're the Captain - what would you do!

The name of the game is this:

I'm going to post up a certain scenario, you're the captain, so how would you react to it!

It can be a simple or complicated answer - just go with pretty much whatever you feel the solution is (there are no wrong or right answers really). Hopefully we'll be able to pass on ideas in terms of tactics, fielding positions, how to deal with players and I'm sure a fair few other things.

I'll post up a new situation once a week, so you have 7 days to get your thoughts in, use this thread or twitter and lets see what we can come up with.

First one up -

It's a 50 over league game. You lost the toss and the opposition decided to bat. So far they have taken your attack apart, scoring 162 -1 off 25 overs. All of your bowlers have come in for stick and need you to lead the way; before the match you felt that a score of 255 would be a decent one, you could be chasing 330+.

So, what do you do next?

 

[Simbazz]

Re: You're the Captain - what would you do!

Tom, just to make it slightly easier, maybe give the 5 bowlers (And types) and just jot down thier statistics so far.

 

[Liz Ward]

Re: You're the Captain - what would you do!

I would like to know the condition of the wicket too... a bunsen by any chance?

 

[mas cambios]

Re: You're the Captain - what would you do!

Tom, just to make it slightly easier, maybe give the 5 bowlers (And types) and just jot down thier statistics so far.

What you would generally find in club cricket, so lets say:

1 x Quick
3 x Seamers
1 x Spinner

There are also 2 other part time bowlers, one seamer and one very slow spinner.

I'm not going to go into too many specifics as the idea is to give general advice for now, I'm just interested how this could pan out as an idea. If it gets a good response, I'll post up more in depth scenarios (just wait for the one where the captain finds out his wife has been sleeping with his no.1 bowler ).

I would like to know the condition of the wicket too... a bunsen by any chance?

Hmmm, tough one, how about a decent batting wicket but something in it for the bowlers, if they hit the right lines. Possibility of spin towards the middle of your team's overs.

You're basically getting taken apart, you need to either stem the flow or take wickets... ideas please!

 

[Mr-Cricket]

Re: You're the Captain - what would you do!

Hope i do this right. I would spread the field in order to try to stop any 4's and 6's. Rotate the bowling attack in order to try to unsettle the batting side (they are very setteld by the sonds of it) and maybe keep the spinner and part time spin on at one end. Have them bowl slow loopy stuff, trying to get them to attack and play a loose shot.

Im not a captain so hard to say really but just my thoughts first up.

 

[imported_wrongun]

Re: You're the Captain - what would you do!

Attack. Opening bowler back on for maybe 2/3 overs, slip in place try to restrict singles esp on off side, make bowler bowl tight line on or just outside off stump. Ideally a wicket is needed this hopefully would make the batsmen take more risks.

If this doesn't work then bring spinners on, bring long on into circle make batsmen hit over the top.

If that doesn't work, rotate bowlers.

If that doesn't work hope your batsmen have a good day.

 

[FBI]

Re: You're the Captain - what would you do!

Great thread.

I'm a shocking captain myself, can't command respect. However, I would probably put on the quickie and the very slow spinner as they are the two most likely wicket takers in the situation.

To the slow spinner, I'd have an in-out field with most emphasis on the out, but enough fielders in the infield for the arial route to seem the best option. I would advise loopy bowling on a good length, give or take. Basically, I'd like to entice the batsman outside his crease, either stretching for one or coming out the crease. This would be the most likely scenario for a catch or stumping. I would ensure a deep midwicket in case of a long hop.

I would advise the quickie to bowl at a good length on the stumps. Such a length can threaten the stumps whilst keeping the batsman interested enough to hit the ball. I would keep a third man and fine leg in with deep midwicket and deep cover and the rest slotting in to the circle (perhaps with mid on and mid off a couple of yards in from the circle).

 

[AUSSIE_BOY]

Re: You're the Captain - what would you do!

hmmmmm i would bring my quick and my best seamer on..

i would instruct the quick to bowl aggressively (line and length mixed with bouncers and yorkers) and advise my seamer 2 bowl line and length...

i would set my field semi aggressively (depending on wat i have seen prior in the days play) making sure i have a slip..

if the bowling attack fails.. i would replace my quick for a spinner and change the seamer with another seamer... with the spinner in i would bring a silly mid in for added pressure...

it is a little hard 2 try and set a field by just reading the given info.. alot easier when u kno the batsmen at the crease..

but thats wat i would do

 

[Jonesy]

Re: You're the Captain - what would you do!

I would bring a seamer and a spinner in, preferably the seamer who gets the most swing/movement.

For the spinner, say he was a leg spinner, I would have most men on the offside out, maybe just with a short-ish cover to stop the drop-and-run, while keeping the leg side in, tempting the batsman to hit against the spin if they wanted to hit big. And concentrate on variation, too.

For the seamer, mid on would be halfway to the circle, allowing a single but they can still hit over the top, encouraging the drive. Advise them to bowl like it is the last few overs of a one day game, and tell him to focus on his bowling, not the batsman's shot so much. Mostly keeping it on middle and off, swing if he swings it away, and also chuck in a few almost wides, to get the batsman reaching.

And you can see why I'm not captain :laugh:

 

[micoach]

Re: You're the Captain - what would you do!

The first thing would be to keep your head. It would be simple to spread the field and wait for something to happen, that would be the worst thing to do in my book. The only way out of this mess is to take a wicket or two quickly.

Now how to do this would depend on what is happening. If all your bowlers are bowling a series of half volleys and long hops you have a serious issue. You can't set fields to that!

More likely is that through a combination of picking off the bad balls, luck and a good wicket the batsmen have got away.

If the case is the latter then analyse what is happening:

Where is the ball going most often and why?
What are the batters favoured shots? At club level noone has every shot in the book so work out what he likes to do and cut those shots off to him or her.

What is the batters body language? Are they feeling that it is pure luck or they is far too good for your players? Get your fielders to chip away at confidence levels.

Keep attacking as much as you can. Obviously you are not going to have 3 slips a short leg and a gulley but you can afford 1 or 2 closer fielders in areas where the ball is likely to go. I like having a short midwicket and short cover when pitches are good as they get in the eye line and lots of club players drive on the up.

Rotate the bowlers, even the bad ones until you find someone who can do a job for you. It takes one ball to get back into the game.

If all that fails (and it sometimes will) and it looks unlikely you will bowl them out then go on the defensive to stem the runs. If your batsmen are the equal of theirs you have the same chance of winning.

 

[kizza]

Re: You're the Captain - what would you do!

well im not captain
but id put my quick in again for a 4 over spell, a slow part time spinner from the other end
with the quick id put a slip in
with the slower bowler in id push everyone back
after these spells id put in 2 seamers and bring everyone in close for 1 bowler and push everyone else back for the 2nd one
id rotate this cycle to keep them on edge
mabbe u now can see that im not captain

 

[FBI]

Re: You're the Captain - what would you do!

The first thing would be to keep your head.

I think that a third man is infinately useful to help a quickie keep his head. It would prevent edges, which are rife in this situation, from going for four. From experience, edges for four are the most demoralising thing.

 

[mas cambios]

Re: You're the Captain - what would you do!

I'm liking the replies so far, nice to see that most of you are attack minded.

Anyone got anything further to add?

 

[micoach]

Re: You're the Captain - what would you do!

I think that a third man is infinately useful to help a quickie keep his head. It would prevent edges, which are rife in this situation, from going for four. From experience, edges for four are the most demoralising thing.

I agree and it depends on the bowler. Some will feel naked without a third man, some will want other positions as a priority.

Third man can be overused too. It is after all a defensive position and in club games our main priority when bowling first is the bowl the opposition out for as low as score as possible.

So it very much depends on the situation in my book.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Re: You're the Captain - what would you do!

I would certainly do something different because whatever I have done until now hasnt worked too well for me. I would devise a plan to stop the flow of runs. At 162 -1 the batsmen wont be looking to preserve their wickets so if runs dont come they'll try something different which might get me the wicket.

 

[FBI]

Re: You're the Captain - what would you do!

I agree and it depends on the bowler. Some will feel naked without a third man, some will want other positions as a priority.

Third man can be overused too. It is after all a defensive position and in club games our main priority when bowling first is the bowl the opposition out for as low as score as possible.

So it very much depends on the situation in my book.

With the 'past it' slip fielder commonplace in club cricket, runs to that region can be rife with twos and threes though.

 

[mas cambios]

Re: You're the Captain - what would you do!

Third man can be overused too. It is after all a defensive position and in club games our main priority when bowling first is the bowl the opposition out for as low as score as possible.

I find that 3rd man is almost a default position for a lot of the teams I play for. Mostly as the captain either doesn't trust the keeper or more likely, doesn't trust his attack.

I've had countless arguments about it but most of them are stuck in their way, hence -

mid-off
mid-on
3rd man
deep fine leg
chuck the rest in around the field

Not great is it! A complete lack of flexibility.

 

[leggeb4]

Re: You're the Captain - what would you do!

This is great...

Well, what can you do the batsman are set, the bowlers are bowling buffet and the fielders heads will be down. Two options I would take.

1. Get the bowlers to bowl one-side of the wicket and concentrate the field placings for this, with and in/out field (7/2 split). Control the controlables, let the batsman take the risk and defend 2/3rds of the ground.

2. Get the team in as soon as possible and dish out the biggest bollocking I can muster, remind players on their responsibility and to concentrate on the present, not what has happened in the first 25 overs. After all, if the batting team can do it, so can we.

By the way, if the opening bowler was sleeping with my wife, I'd make him bowl 13 overs straight off so he's to tired, then I could get in there on Saturday night's....for a change!!!

 

[Liz Ward]

Re: You're the Captain - what would you do!

I am 'blessed' with 11 really potent bowlers; unfortunately, none can bat

Therefore, this situation is desperate [not to mention unfamiliar ]

I toyed with the idea of putting my spinners on; I know they can get a good number of wickets but costly. My beautiful medium pace swing bowler can bowl more than a few maidens over but this is too much for one Adonis and really beyond the call of duty.

I am going to call for a drinks break and lead the whole team behind the screen and perform an extravagant rain dance.

What is a Captain if not a Leader :laugh: What's for tea?

Now, what's this about my wife?

 

[leggeb4]

Re: You're the Captain - what would you do!

I see Liz and myself have resorted to desperate measures!!! rain dance, what's for tea and clap them off generously...Or just enjoy the moment and remember that chasing 300 is fun, there is no pressure, send in the big hitters early. God bless Saturday's.