[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] - Pak has all 10 wickets in hand. Why not slog for few overs and see how it goes! They can go back to defence if they lose 2/3 wickets. Only 45 overs remain now.
Actually, it doesn't work that way - these are international players, knows exactly what fellow professionals will do. Sportsmanship doesn't exist anywhere unless it's imposed - if PAK goes after, Ken'll spread his fielding out, still if the RR of 6/7 maintained - his bowlers will start to change shoes, socks...... if required underwear. If couple of wicket goes down, unnecessary tension & the same rebuilding work. This is I said, that declaration by Cook was absolute rubbish, IND was never in the game once target crossed 250.
Only solution is to increase the game duration. Yesterday, PAK bowled last 50 overs to contain, simply because they knew there are around 180 overs left, they can get away with a draw. NZ also, delayed declaration just to make sure PAK has no chance - if they over do, things will get in Kiwi's favor.
Hypothetically, add another 200 overs in this match - from ball 1 of 2nd innings, Azhar would have told his bowlers that, there is enough time for them to set 650 & take 10 wickets in 250 overs - so no relax, get your act sort & get 10 wickets. Now, say PAK gets a target of 450 in 200 overs - which one is easier - bat out 200 overs at 1.7 rate, or keep scoring & try to finish it in 135 overs? In fact, if the game is prolonged, I am sure teams will go with 4.5 bowlers at least, because only way to avoid defeat is to win & that's by taking 20 wickets. At Bhu*war, ENG tried to play out 150 overs, which wasn't impossible - add another 50 with that, better proposition is to counter attack & try to score 404 .............
ICC is the worst enemy of Test cricket, which is trying every bit to ensure a slow death of this format.
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for Sami as well
more by sami down the leg side.
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