Did Pakistan commit a tactical error by declaring?

[stevewittry]

Watching this MCG test match, it gets amazing how close test matches can get despite losing better part of 2 and a bit days to rain.

With Pakistan having to face another 10 overs before the closure of this match, it makes me wonder whether Pakistan made a tactical blunder in declaring their innings. Had they not declared, it would have meant few valuable runs being added to their score and also consuming some time, which would have totally eliminated any remote chance of a loss.

Given that there was a possibility of Pakistan having to bat last on the final day and how much the game swings in favor of bowlers the last day, this specific decision to me was the eventual factor between a graceful draw vs a humiliating loss.

The way Pak batted in difficult conditions in their first innings despite several intervals, a loss is the last thing they deserved

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Watching this MCG test match, it gets amazing how close test matches can get despite losing better part of 2 and a bit days to rain.

With Pakistan having to face another 10 overs before the closure of this match, it makes me wonder whether Pakistan made a tactical blunder in declaring their innings. Had they not declared, it would have meant few valuable runs being added to their score and also consuming some time, which would have totally eliminated any remote chance of a loss.

Given that there was a possibility of Pakistan having to bat last on the final day and how much the game swings in favor of bowlers the last day, this specific decision to me was the eventual factor between a graceful draw vs a humiliating loss.

The way Pak batted in difficult conditions in their first innings despite several intervals, a loss is the last thing they deserved

Two things.

Pakistan declared with an intent to win, not to come away with a respectable loss.

Second, had Pakistan kept on batting Australia would have declared earlier and Pakistan would have still lost this somehow.

 

[Cricfan4eva]

Pakistan declared because they wanted to push for a win. That they will bowl so poorly and put up a horrible show with bat in 2nd innings isn't something they knew.

Unless they have a crystal ball that tells them whats going to happen, declaration wasn't any issue at all.

 

[Convict]

A Captain shouldn't make decisions based on the possibility of conceding 650 runs or whatever in about 5 sessions

 

[Buffet]

You can't plan for team getting bowled out within 50 overs on flat track.

You also can't plan for bowlers giving 650 runs at 4.5 runs per over.


Bowled and batted poorly. It was not a tactical mistake. If you start imagining that bowlers will give 650 runs at 4.5 runs per over then you will hardly win any matches by wasting time by batting too long.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

There was nothing wrong with our declaration

 

[Pakistanian]

We only had 1 wicket left anyways. The bowling let us down before the batting did. No quality bowling side lets the opposition score 400+ against them.

 

[Navdeep Srivastava]

Well declaration was right , bowling and batting in second inning was not.

 

[hamzie]

we were 9 wickets down. lol what are you expecting for them to do had we not declared? 300 run partnership?

 

[Madplayer]

It was a correct decision. Its near impossible to lose after scoring 450 in an innings.

Inept bowling and ordinary captaincy to begin with, and pathetic batting in second innings is a reason for the loss.

 

[Buffet]

It was a correct decision. Its near impossible to lose after scoring 450 in an innings.

Inept bowling and ordinary captaincy to begin with, and pathetic batting in second innings is a reason for the loss.

Near impossible is right word if full 5 days are played. Record shows that.

With one full day lost, it was virtually impossible to lose, but Pakistani bowlers gave 650 runs at 4.5 runs perr over and then followed it with getting out within 50 overs. You can't plan for such poor cricket.