Which toss decisions are regarded as smartest, gutsiest in the cricket history? I can think of one.
Arjuna Rantunga - 1996 world cup final. SL won the toss and decided to field first. There was so much stacked against this decision. - No host team had ever won the world cup, so SL must have had that on their minds. - No team had ever won the world cup final batting second till then. - Chasing in ODIs was a monumental challenge in the 90s, especially in knock out games. Required rate of 5 was considered very tough. - SL got lucky in semis by losing the toss (and batting first), when India crumbled on a turning pitch with world cup pressure during chasing. Aussies had won a tight semi final defending a lowish score against WI. - Aus got off to a good start by being 130-1, and SL got off to terrible start losing both their explosive openers very early. The toss decision seemed terrible at the time. - But Rantunga had relied on his gut, his plan of using the dry pitch to choke Aussies, and chasing when there was dew on the ground, which could neutralize Warne. Both of his instincts paid off as SL spinners restricted Australia to 243, with DeSilva leading with a 3-for and DeSilva again coming to the rescue in the chase with a chance less unbeaten 100. - Thus, SL broke both the stereotypes of host country and chasing team not winning the final, thanks in part to his gutsy decision at the toss.
Ganguly’s decision to bat first in Hedingly 2002 test, and playing two spinners on a green top, is another one that comes to mind.
[link] [comments]
from Cricket https://ift.tt/2JSyWkl
via IFTTT
No comments:
Post a Comment