Target Setting in Cricket: How Teams Decide When to Declare or How Hard to Attack
Target setting in cricket is the strategy of deciding what total to aim for when batting first, balancing a score that's hard to chase with having enough time to bowl out the opposition.
What Is Target Setting in Cricket?
Target setting refers to the strategy of the team batting first — deciding what total they want to post before the opposition bats. In limited-overs cricket this means maximising runs within the allotted overs. In Test cricket, it involves declaring at the right moment to give bowlers enough time to take 10 wickets.
Target Setting in ODI Cricket
In ODIs, a total above 300 on good batting pitches is generally considered competitive. In modern ODI cricket (post-2015), totals of 330–360 are increasingly common as par on flat pitches. Captains must balance aggression in the death overs against the risk of losing wickets cheaply.
Target Setting in T20 Cricket
In T20s, a total of 160–180 is typically competitive at most grounds. In high-scoring T20 tournaments like the IPL, totals of 200+ are routinely challenged. Teams aim for 180+ when batting first on fast outfields with short boundaries.
Factors Affecting Target Setting
| Factor | Impact on Target |
|---|---|
| Pitch | Flat = higher target needed; turning/seaming = lower par |
| Ground size | Small boundaries = 10–20 runs higher target needed |
| Dew (day-night) | Dew helps batting second — bat first target must be higher |
| Opposition bowling strength | Strong bowling = conservative target safer |
Frequently asked questions
What is target setting in cricket?
Target setting is the strategy of deciding what total to aim for when batting first, to give the bowling attack enough of a score to defend.
What is a good score in T20 cricket?
Generally 160–180 is competitive in T20 cricket, with 200+ considered a very strong total.
What is a par score in cricket?
A par score is the generally accepted total for a given ground and pitch condition — roughly what teams on average score in that venue and conditions.