Should Australia have gone for the kill by enforcing the follow-on?

[santos11]

Australia were 287 runs ahead at the end of Pakistan First innings with bowlers in full flow.

Should have enforced follow on there, even if Pakistan managed 400 Australia would be chasing only around 100-120.... That would have been easy.

Not enforcing the follow on, then hurrying up to score 200 runs, losing wickets, not using all their wickets and giving Pakistan more than 2 days to chase has opened up an opportunity for the opposition.

 

[Convict]

Yeah.

need to get over Eden Gardens

 

[Aman]

Yeah.

need to get over Eden Gardens

What's worse is your third innings, you never really got going. Pakistan got some momentum going taking 5 wickets for not many runs.

 

[troodon]

Aus might win this, but not enforcing follow on was pathetic decision imo.

The pitch looks beautiful to bat on and you do not know how much Pakistan will score in 2nd innings.

 

[Aman]

Aus might win this, but not enforcing follow on was pathetic decision imo.

The pitch looks beautiful to bat on and you do not know how much Pakistan will score in 2nd innings.

Tbh, I initially thought they didn't do it because they didn't want their pacers to break down.

 

[javiersuka]

Australia might have won the match by an innings or by ten wickets had they enforced the follow on.

I don't understand why so many teams don't enforce the follow on these days. Most of the 2nd innings of dominant team in such cases never get going and they always end up giving a better chance to the chasing team than they might have by enforcing the follow on.

Happened with Pakistan team in first test against WI too.

 

[fawad_wellwisher]

Well TBH 490 has never been chased on this ground before so they were playing the probabilities with the knowledge that Pakistan do not have a strong batting lineup. Great fight back from Pakistan so far.

 

[Bilal7]

Pakistan would have been 100-150 ahead if that had happened and the Australians really don't want to see Yasir Shah coming at them when they are under pressure. I would have backed Pakistan to make it a close game even if the follow-on was enforced.

What's worse is your third innings, you never really got going. Pakistan got some momentum going taking 5 wickets for not many runs.

Pakistan have bowled very well in this test match, even though the numbers don't show it.

 

[Aman]

Pakistan would have been 100-150 ahead if that had happened and the Australians really don't want to see Yasir Shah coming at them when they are under pressure. I would have backed Pakistan to make it a close game even if the follow-on was enforced.



Pakistan have bowled very well in this test match, even though the numbers don't show it.

Yeah, from day 2 onwards they have been excellent.

 

[Aman]

Australia might have won the match by an innings or by ten wickets had they enforced the follow on.

I don't understand why so many teams don't enforce the follow on these days. Most of the 2nd innings of dominant team in such cases never get going and they always end up giving a better chance to the chasing team than they might have by enforcing the follow on.

Happened with Pakistan team in first test against WI too.

I think it had to do with their fragile bowlers tbh (mostly referring to Starc here).

 

[fawad_wellwisher]

Yes they will never do it because they play the percentages and 490 is a score they would have felt is enough to beat Pakistan. What they did not expect is that Pakistan will play great and make a game out of this. Dropped catches didn't help either.

 

[czar]

Atleast bat the opposition out by setting an out of reach target, around 600 + in this case to play safe.

Why set a target of 490 and give the opposition more than 200 overs to bat?

Target of 600 in 5 Sessions would have ensured safety for the Aussie as even in worst case, the match would have been only a draw.

Australia will still win this, no doubt. But they could have done it more convincingly with ease.

Pakistan has managed to put up this fight only because there was nothing to lose. If this was a pressure situation with a manageable target, Pakistan would fold like a pack of cards.

 

[Bilal7]

I think it had to do with their fragile bowlers tbh (mostly referring to Starc here).

He's played four tests on the trot so it'll be interesting to see if his body can keep up with his skill if Pakistan ensure that the third test is not a dead rubber.

 

[Aman]

[MENTION=132373]Convict[/MENTION] did CA and Channel 9 have a hand in Australia not enforcing the follow on?

 

[street cricketer]

No, it was a good declaration.

Pakistan just exceeded the expectations of many. Getting 490 runs in the final innings is nearly impossible even on a flat track.

 

[Aman]

No, it was a good declaration.

Pakistan just exceeded the expectations of many. Getting 490 runs in the final innings is nearly impossible even on a flat track.

Plenty of Aussies mad that they gave Pakistan so much time to chase it on a road (their words).

Several filthy Smith didn't enforce the follow on either, some are even suggesting CA and Channel 9 had a hand in the decision.

 

[street cricketer]

Plenty of Aussies mad that they gave Pakistan so much time to chase it on a road (their words).

Several filthy Smith didn't enforce the follow on either, some are even suggesting CA and Channel 9 had a hand in the decision.

They could have made Pakistan follow on but still making a quickfire 200 and setting Pakistan a 500 target is still the best way. Let's be honest, Pakistan have batted very well and probably exceeded their own expectations. I'm not sure even the Pakistan players would have believed that they would be in with a chance of winning the match yesterday.

The thing is, regardless of the target, it is when the thought that you are close to a win sets in your mind, you start losing it. That is why most teams making a spirited run chase lose it ultimately in the end by 40-70 runs regardless of the final target. Pakistan literally had no pressure when they started their chase because they had nil chance of winning the match. But now that they are within reaching distance of the target, the pressure is going to compound exponentially as they inch closer and they will crack in the end. If they do end up doing it (which I don't think is possible), it will comfortably be the best test chase ever. Hopefully Rahat hits the winning runs.

 

[Chrish]

Teams don't follow on nowadays because they want to keep their bowlers fresh..

 

[Markhor]

The Calcutta thing is a bit of a myth - Waugh enforced the follow-on plenty of times after that match.

Perhaps it was done to preserve the fitness of Starc and Hazelwood, the former recently coming back from injury. As for the declaration - after our 1st innings debacle you'd have thought 490 would be (and most likely will be) more than enough.

Anyway if you want to criticise Smith's captaincy, you can criticise him for taking the extra half hour then wasting two overs bowling Nic Maddinson.

 

[Buffet]

Aus took the right decision.