If India wins the toss , what should it do ?

[Ram]

A very tricky question, IMO. Kolkata is sure to offer much more to the pacers than what dead-pan Delhi did. Makes the toss and the following decision an extremely interesting one.

[praveenj]

I guess we should bowl first...we don' t have to worry for having to bat in the fourth innings [if at all required], kaneria is not as good as he was...

[Ram]

For me, there is no doubt. We must bat first. Even if the wicket has some juice in it, its about time we backed our top-order to come through. Batting last in a test is NEVER easy.

[fineleg]

Take a look at the pitch and decide. If it CLEARLY looks like it will offer a lot of help for fast bowlers initially, BOWL first. If it is not so clear, just bat.

[Dhoni's English]

Got to bowl first IMO because it clearly looks like the 2nd and 3rd days are going to be the best for batting. Stick Pak in, bowl 'em out on the first day for less that 300. India then bat for 2 days with a 350/400 run lead, and then the spinners do their work and an innings victory. Simple.:D

[Guest BossBhai]

-- Removed on request of the user --

[praveenj]

India's Batting Record at Kolkatta for each Match Innings

and Pak's ???

[Guest BossBhai]

-- Removed on request of the user --

[praveenj]

that generally tells the story...isn't it? indians feel at this venue...

[DesiChap]

Bat 1st

[MundaPakistani]

They have played 6 Tests there compared to 34 for India so it wont be accurate but anyhow here it is ...

 
[B]Inngs    Avg      Max        Min[/B]
1       247       301        185
2       302       393        229
3       253       316        146
4       198       226        179

Incidently the lowest 1st innings score and the highest 3rd innings were scored in the same game.

[Dhoni's English]

Weather Forecast Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik complained about the lack of sunshine during the Delhi match, but he can expect plenty of clear skies for the second game in Kolkata. Hot and humid conditions are predicted for all five days, so we shouldn't get any interruptions in play. Pitch Report The pitch at Eden Gardens is traditionally on the slower side and good for batting, with plenty of assistance for spinners throughout the five days. The surface is usually best for batting on days two and three, after giving some assistance to pacemen on the opening day. Says curator Kalyan Mitra of the coming Test: "It would be traditional Eden pitch where there will be a purchase for everyone who works for it. While the pacers will get some help in the initial stages and then it should be to the spinners' liking." However, Shoaib Aktar and Co have been warned that excess grass has been "skimmed off the pitch", allegedly on request from local icon Sourav Ganguly. Sides winning the toss generally wield the willow first to avoid batting on a crumbling, turning day five pitch. While more than 50% of Test matches have been drawn here, this is mostly down to the ground's early days - the first five Tests at Eden Gardens were all drawn. However there have been six results from the last seven matches, and the ground has generally yielded fewer and fewer draws as time has passed. Expect Anil Kumble to once again have a big influence on the outcome of this game along with Harbhajan Singh, while Pakistan's spinners will need to lift their game if the tourists are to have a chance of turning the series around.

[Bumper]

This is a no brainer. Win the toss & bat first. Not just because thats the conventional approach, but also because Pakistani bowlers (Akhtar & Gul) have barely recovered from their ills/injuries and will likely be rusty. A good start will also provide us the right platform to possibly bat Pak out of the match.

[Anakin]

Bat first

[Online]

win the toss - bat first - always

[fineleg]

win the toss - bat first - always

"always"!??? u mean in India? If it happens to be a green green pitch in the nether lands of Aus or SA - u may want to reconsider ur post!

[PaiN_KiLLeR]

Kolkata is sure to offer much more to the pacers than what dead-pan Delhi did. Makes the toss and the following decision an extremely interesting one.

No it will not. BCCI chief curator Daljit Singh says the Pitch will play slow and low. So win the toss and bat first!

[gator]

in my personal opinion, 90% of the time, u give urself the best chance to win a test match when u bat first... and i believe, tht is what we should do....

[Guest HariSampath]

win the toss - bat first - always

Don Bradman on winning the toss : If you win the toss, bat first. If in doubt, think for a while and bat first.

[Guest HariSampath]

IMO, Pakistan is already under the pressure of losing the test series. So we have to bat first, and even a score of 275-5 at stumps means from start of day 2 Pak will have to battle to save series. That makes it 4 days of playing under the spectre of a series loss, which will make it easy for India