Will Pakistan break the 16 year streak by enforcing the follow on?

[DeadBall]

The last time Pakistan enforced a follow on was against New Zealand in May of 2002 when Shoaib Akhtar ran through the batting line up and Pakistan won by an innings.

Will/Should Sarfaraz enforce a follow on against Ireland if the option is available?

 

[hadi123]

Don't think so, you don't want to chase on this pitch and think our batsmen need to get some runs under their belt.

 

[PakSarZameen]

They should back themselves. We have 5 bowlers + Haris so everyone should be fresh.

 

[Mamoon]

I hope they don't. Our stroke-less wonders and hacks need more time in the middle.

 

[Abdul]

I hope they don't. Our stroke-less wonders and hacks need more time in the middle.

Hacks? You're right.

 

[saeed5646]

It's official, Ireland will bat again .

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This is the first time Pakistan has enforced the follow-on since May 2002 when they beat New Zealand by an innings & 324 runs in Lahore <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IREvPAK?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IREvPAK</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/995693802546515970?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Asif321]

in UAE Pak got numerous chances to enforce follow on but they never did . something new to see for a quite a long time

 

[hafeezrocks]

Follow on rule

Doesn't a team has to be in lead of 200 runs to enforce a follow on. How did Pakistan manage to enforce a follow on with a lead of 180 runs?

I may not know the rule completely.

 

[Major]

Pakistan has got many chances in the past. But due to better understanding of the conditions they never enforced it.

 

[Major]

I hope they don't. Our stroke-less wonders and hacks need more time in the middle.

Thing is. This is a test match not a first class match

They cant use this match as practise they have to win it

Rain threat is also there. A draw here will result in us losing points

 

[DeadBall]

Doesn't a team has to be in lead of 200 runs to enforce a follow on. How did Pakistan manage to enforce a follow on with a lead of 180 runs?

I may not know the rule completely.

Since it was reduced to a 4 day match the lead was reduced to 150.

 

[Mamoon]

Thing is. This is a test match not a first class match

They cant use this match as practise they have to win it

Rain threat is also there. A draw here will result in us losing points

In spite of the threat of rain, there is more than enough time left in the game to bat for 50-60 overs and take 10 wickets. However, they went for the safer option and it is understandable. Anyway, an additional innings will not prevent the team from collapsing like a deck of cards against Anderson and Broad.

 

[Rahul1]

I'm confused. Isn't the rule of follow on is that it can be applied only when your team is leading by a minimum of 200 runs?

 

[Abdul]

I'm confused. Isn't the rule of follow on is that it can be applied only when your team is leading by a minimum of 200 runs?

The first day was washed out.

 

[hafeezrocks]

Since it was reduced to a 4 day match the lead was reduced to 150.

Thanks.

 

[Sirris]

Did not expect it.

 

[CadPakFan]

Really wanted to see Azhar & Sarfraz get some runs under their belt, both of them are in some really worrying form.

 

[msb314]

From 2002 - 2018! All the years of NOT enforcing the follow-on

So it has finally come!

For the first time since 2002 - we have enforced the follow-on.

It was mentioned that since 2002 - there have been 5 instances where we had a first innings lead of over 200 but still chose not to follow on so thought I would bring those matches to attention.

1) Pakistan vs Australia 2nd Test 2014 Abu Dhabi
It took us 12 years to garner a 200+ lead in the first innings again after that game against NZ in 2002 but what an occasion this was! Buoyed by YK's double hundred and an Azhar Ali / Misbah centuries in both innings we comprehensively thrashed Australia to win the series 2-0. This match is fondly remembered for Misbah scoring the joint fastest Test hundred at the time (later surpassed by B. McCullum in 2016)

2) Pakistan vs NZ 1st Test 2014 Abu Dhabi
Having to wait 12 years the first time -we only had to wait one more match to garner another 200+ lead in our first innings! We piled on 566/3 against NZ in Abu Dhabi thanks to Ahmed Shehzad's 176 whilst NZ succumbed to 262 all out in the first innings but we chose not to follow on and comprehensively beat NZ. Unfortunately - this series was overshadowed by Phil Hughes death...

3) Bangladesh vs Pakistan 2nd Test 2015 Dhaka
After the 2015 WC - we toured Bangladesh and saw them beat us 3-0 in the ODI series. The 1st test saw us have a commanding 1st innings lead and only see an epic Bangladesh fightback that saw them draw the 1st match at Khulna. However, at Dhaka a few days later, we would not be denied! A fantastic double hundred by Azhar followed by centuries from YK and Asad saw us amass 557/8 in our first innings whilst Bangladesh fell to 203 all-out. We chose not follow on and ended up winning by 328 runs.

4) Pakistan vs WI 1st Test 2016 Dubai
In our first ever day / night test match - we amassed 579/3 against WI thanks to an Azhar Ali triple hundred whilst WI were all-out for 357. A third innings collapse and a rearguard by the WI in the 4th innings resulted in a much closer much than it should have been but we still won by 56 runs.

5) Pakistan vs WI 2nd Test 2016 Abu Dhabi
Against we only had to wait for one more match to amass another 200+ lead in the first innings! In the 2nd test at Abu Dhabi we scored 452 thanks to a YK 127 (which would turn out to be his last test century in Asia). WI scored 224 in reply and again we chose not enforce the follow on and ended up beating the WI by 133 runs. Unfortunately - we lost the 3rd test and could not white wash the WI at home.

 

[MenInG]

We now know why we didnt enforce the follow on before.

Our bowlers are simply not fit enough

Even in these cool conditions in Ireland they are struggling.

 

[asifp]

We should not have done that. bat again, take the lead to 350-400 then declare. No way Irleand gets that muich batting 4th.

 

[Mainul]

We now know why we didnt enforce the follow on before.

Our bowlers are simply not fit enough

Even in these cool conditions in Ireland they are struggling.

Don't blame your bowlers.Both the openers should have been gone by now.But courtesy: traditional Pakistani catch misses.

 

[Major]

We now know why we didnt enforce the follow on before.

Our bowlers are simply not fit enough

Even in these cool conditions in Ireland they are struggling.

I dont think it has got anything to do with our bowlers getting tired

In the past i think even Micheal Clark wouldn't enforce the follow on as he wanted to give rest to his bowlers

Misbah always emphasized on never being the ones to bat last on a UAE pitch, because they become a minefield by day 4 and 5

 

[Major]

Still, Sarfraz took the right decision here. 1 Day has been wasted, and more overs are to be wasted with rain looming.

 

[MenInG]

Serious questions about this decision now

Main Bowler has a chronic injury
Batting is weak or still learning the ropes

Why follow on?

 

[SM1989]

This decision has cost Pakistan the match

 

[Abdullah]

In spite of the threat of rain, there is more than enough time left in the game to bat for 50-60 overs and take 10 wickets. However, they went for the safer option and it is understandable. Anyway, an additional innings will not prevent the team from collapsing like a deck of cards against Anderson and Broad.

I don't get how bowling was safer option. It's easier for our bunch to stay away from any 130 chases. More likely to make 150 batting third than batting 4th when it's all on the line.

 

[Mamoon]

I don't get how bowling was safer option. It's easier for our bunch to stay away from any 130 chases. More likely to make 150 batting third than batting 4th when it's all on the line.

It was safer keeping in mind the weather conditions. Batting again may not have given us enough time to take 10 wickets if it would have rained again.

However, the insipid bowling display in the second innings was unexpected, quite reminiscent of the second innings bowling performance at Edgbaston.

 

[AssassinatedDevil]

Really glad the follow-on was successful in the end

 

[The Googly]

It was a terrible decision to enforce the follow on :

1. Pakistan needed batted practice - especially Azhar and Sarfraz.

2. The ONLY way Ireland could get back in the game was to enforce the follow on. The batting conditions were the best of the match and it put unnecessary pressure on the bowlers. All Pakistan had to do was score 250 and game over. The pressure is always on the team batting last. The weather forecast was not an issue - there was always going to be enough time for a result.