Why is it so difficult to chase low totals in Test matches?

[SM1989]

Please excuse my ignorance, but I am keen on understanding the reasons behind why a team can comfortably chase 150+ in ODIs with little pressure on them, but in a test match that same 150+ looks very daunting.

In ODIs you would expect a team to chase 150+, nine out of ten times. However in test matches you would expect them to chase it six out of ten times.

What are the main reasons? Pitches? Fielding Restrictions? Game mode?

 

[Pakhs]

Simple, if the target is low after 3 innings that would in most cases mean the wicket is tough to bat on and the runs would have to be scored when the pitch is at its toughest.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Because the pitch deteriorates. It's the same pitch used for 5 days.

 

[Hari Sombar]

The pitch is normally harder to bat on and also teams play way too defensively which means there are more wicket chances per run scored.

 

[Hasan123]

Usually low scores are difficult to chase due to tough batting conditions.

 

[DeadBall]

It's also due to mental pressure. You can see proper batsmen perish for low scores with tailenders then scoring on the same pitch because they have nothing to lose.

 

[SM1989]

It's also due to mental pressure. You can see proper batsmen perish for low scores with tailenders then scoring on the same pitch because they have nothing to lose.

In that case, it would be better for tailenders to open and hit the ball around guns blazing. The target can get reduced and then batsmen will have less pressure on them.

 

[Rana]

Spinners coming into play and the wicket not being as easy to bat on.

There is also a great mental block in Test cricket about the 4th innings and a score past 160 being enough runs on the board.

 

[Ab Fan]

Because the pitch deteriorates and it becomes of uneven nature, slightly up and down, spins a lot and huge footmarks. In Aus/SA, there is unpredictable bounce and it spins as well there.

In NZ, I think the conditions aren't that bad. Teams have better record on day 5 in New Zealand because the pitch doesn't deteriorate there.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

Because the pitch deteriorates and it becomes of uneven nature, slightly up and down, spins a lot and huge footmarks. In Aus/SA, there is unpredictable bounce and it spins as well there.

In NZ, I think the conditions aren't that bad. Teams have better record on day 5 in New Zealand because the pitch doesn't deteriorate there.

There is no spin in Australia on any day

 

[Ab Fan]

There is no spin in Australia on any day

On pitches like SCG and MCG, the cracks get widen up in the latter part of the game and starts assisting spinners by day 5. I even recall Kohli scoring a hundred on a rank turner in Adelaide as well.

 

[Shutdown Corner]

You have also factor in players are tired after playing 3 previous innings.

On top of that the pitch quality deteriorates to make batting harder than the 1st innings.

 

[ManFan]

On pitches like SCG and MCG, the cracks get widen up in the latter part of the game and starts assisting spinners by day 5. I even recall Kohli scoring a hundred on a rank turner in Adelaide as well.

It was not a rank turner.

The Indian batsman just played reckless shots that were caught either at short leg, deep midwicket, and or cow corner.

Poor Murali Vijay was OUT on 99 to one that got stuck in the pitch that triggered a collapse.

For the past fifteen years, Australia has been a graveyard for spinners. Only ones that perform are those of Australian background like Lyon or Warne.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

On pitches like SCG and MCG, the cracks get widen up in the latter part of the game and starts assisting spinners by day 5. I even recall Kohli scoring a hundred on a rank turner in Adelaide as well.

I don't remember seeing any turner. Australia is the worst place for spinners in the world by some distance. Every single overseas spinner get completely demolished.

 

[jiduguravindra]

Kohli hundred on Adelaide was one of the best 4th innings hundreds...lyon was turning the ball square...

 

[giri26]

Like everyone has already mentioned, 4th or 5th day pitch is the major reason. Even though mental part comes into play, the pitch conditions dictate how the batsman feels as well. If the ball keeps misbehaves, that puts doubt in the batsman's mind, making them play some poor shots under pressure.

 

[topspin]

There is no spin in Australia on any day

Pitches like SCG and Adelaide do deteriorate from day 4 onwards such as the game in the latter when Kohli scored his ton.

 

[todfod 11]

Please excuse my ignorance, but I am keen on understanding the reasons behind why a team can comfortably chase 150+ in ODIs with little pressure on them, but in a test match that same 150+ looks very daunting.

In ODIs you would expect a team to chase 150+, nine out of ten times. However in test matches you would expect them to chase it six out of ten times.

What are the main reasons? Pitches? Fielding Restrictions? Game mode?

Pitch deteriorates is all but crap... Uts the mentality of the team chasing the low totals.. Especially Pakistan because of their timid approach. Every time the team chasing low scores should use lower order batsmen to go and score runs fast and put pressure on the team defending total.
But what pakistan team does is open with Azhar and other opener and gets defensive from the very first ball which allows the rival team to put more pressure on them.
When chasing a low score always open with batsmen who can score quick ru s like sarfaraz.

 

[adzzy786]

The pitch deteriorates after being played on for so long. The pitches can crack up, become dusty, bounce can be varied making it difficult to bat.

Also there are no fielding restrictions as there are in ODI cricket.

Batting against a white ball and a red ball is different plus the same bowl is bowled with for 90 overs bringing reverse swing, spin into play much more.

 

[adzzy786]

Pitch deteriorates is all but crap... Uts the mentality of the team chasing the low totals.. Especially Pakistan because of their timid approach. Every time the team chasing low scores should use lower order batsmen to go and score runs fast and put pressure on the team defending total.
But what pakistan team does is open with Azhar and other opener and gets defensive from the very first ball which allows the rival team to put more pressure on them.
When chasing a low score always open with batsmen who can score quick ru s like sarfaraz.

It’s definitely not crap. I understand your frustration that Azhar can take a much slower approach than usual, but doesn’t change that the pitch does make it very difficult to bat on.

 

[hk031992]

because top bowlers can bowl an unlimited number of overs

 

[Ab Fan]

I don't remember seeing any turner. Australia is the worst place for spinners in the world by some distance. Every single overseas spinner get completely demolished.

You should watch the highlights. He was in a completely different zone in that match. There is a reason why he rates that knock very highly.

 

[todfod 11]

It’s definitely not crap. I understand your frustration that Azhar can take a much slower approach than usual, but doesn’t change that the pitch does make it very difficult to bat on.

But definately approach towards chasing a small target matters as well.. The game pakistan couldnt chase against sri lanka I think the target was 139. Openers went in with an defensive mode , now instead azhar if they would have opened with sarfarz or anyother player who could have given 30 -40 runs by attacking the bowlers from first ball, think how much pressure it would have put on the bowlers defending the total. That game was lost by the approach.
There have been instances where top order would fail but lower order batsmen woyld score easily which proves pitch doesnt deteriorate as much as it is made out to be.