Hong Kong face some hard choices before today's crucial do-or-die game against Denmark at the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division Three tournament but coach Charlie Burke has ruled out using a pinch-hitter to get the innings off to a flyer.
Both of Hong Kong's innings in the two losses against the United States and Oman got off to solid but slow starts, raising the question whether a change in tactics is necessary for the must-win game against the Danes at Mission Road.
Burke said a pinch-hitter would not be used and he would keep faith with Roy Lamsam and Courtney Kruger to set the foundation for a later charge by the other batsmen.
'That [pinch-hitter] is not really our style,' he said. 'We got plenty of guys who can do that later on. Going in with a bang is not our strength and we will continue to [bat] the way we have.'
With two bowling powerplays - the mandatory first 10 overs followed by a further five which the team have the option when to utilise - resulting in fielding restrictions, most sides have opted for opening the innings with a batsman who can go over the top and collect the boundaries.
In contrast, Hong Kong have chosen the sedate approach. Against the US, they finished the two bowling powerplays - 15 overs - on 50 for two, while against Oman, it was 58 for one. On both occasions, Hong Kong ended with below-par totals of 256 and 266, easily overhauled by the opposition.