While initially treated as a bit of a gimmick by many cricket fans, the Big Bash League has become a mainstay of the Australian sporting calendar, pulling big crowds and huge TV viewership night after night. We’ve witnessed plenty of spectacular moments so far this season and with finals looming right around the corner this is as good a time as any to ask: is it better to bat first or second?   The tactical element From the perspective of the batsmen, knowing the target to be chased informs how a team bats: more aggressively with a larger total to reach and less so with a smaller one....…While initially treated as a bit of a gimmick by many cricket fans, the Big Bash League has become a mainstay of the Australian sporting calendar, pulling big crowds and huge TV viewership night after night. We’ve witnessed plenty of spectacular moments so far this season and with finals looming right around the corner this is as good a time as any to ask: is it better to bat first or second?   The tactical element From the perspective of the batsmen, knowing the target to be chased informs how a team bats: more aggressively with a larger total to reach and less so with a smaller one....WW…