Can one of the proper cricket heads please explain

Why the bloody hell we opted to put our under prepared, inexperienced, weak, out of form, under pressure batting line up in to bat on the first morning of the first test against a fired up bowling unit under leaden skies with the strong possibility of the bowl hooping about in front of a full house and all the pressure that entails?

To me that always looked like a bally stupid decision and the consequences entirely foreseeable.

Posted By: Under soil heating, May 26, 11:55:25