2nd Test England v Pakistan, Old Trafford, 22-26 July

[sussexpob]

Just doesnt make sense to me. Pakistan must have been delighted.

[captaincolly]

Just doesnt make sense to me. Pakistan must have been delighted.

According to Paul Farbrace it was because the pitch was still good for batting so they wanted to score extra runs now rather than face a potential 5th day innungs. He insisted the decision had nothing to do with fitness issues over Anderson or Stokes.
Certainly a cautious decision because had they enforced the follow on it would almost certainly have led to an innings victory or, in the worst case scenario, have left them with a handful of runs to get in the last innings.

[bigfluffylemon]

Add me to the chorus of those baffled that the follow-on was not enforced. Oh well. Forecast is for a few showers, but it'll need several sessions lost for England not to win this one.

I imagine they'll bat on in the morning and give it some humpty for an hour or so to get the lead 550+.

[Making_Splinters]

I think you can just about argue that batting again this evening was OK, but batting tomorrow is a whole nother kettle of fish. If Pakistan can chase down 489 then they'll chase down 550. With showers predicted England need to ensure they have ball in hand and get wickets.

[bigfluffylemon]

I think you can just about argue that batting again this evening was OK, but batting tomorrow is a whole nother kettle of fish. If Pakistan can chase down 489 then they'll chase down 550. With showers predicted England need to ensure they have ball in hand and get wickets.

Agreed. I was making a prediction, not what I hope will happen. I hope they'll declare overnight and get on with it.

[budgetmeansbudget]

Baffling as it was that Cook didn't enforce the follow on, I think it will be even more baffling if they don't bat on this morning for a bit.

Otherwise you've just completely thrown away an innings for little gain.

[braveneutral]

Baffling as it was that Cook didn't enforce the follow on, I think it will be even more baffling if they don't bat on this morning for a bit.

Otherwise you've just completely thrown away an innings for little gain.

As silly as it may appear it is the right thing to do - in very wrong circumstances.

[sussexpob]

Only three teams in the history of the game have won following on, and the key to note in all of these instances is, the team winning was facing a deficit in the first innings of 150 plus runs less than Pakistan. No one has come near to overturning a 400 run first innings deficit being asked to follow on. For a coach to say he is worried about batting on the 5th day when they are as in control of a game as could be hoped....

Well, its pretty much verging on insanity. Incredibly negative cricket from England. If a four man attack plays and one is injured, and another is knackered having bowled 40 overs in a first innings, sure, dont ask to follow on. But if England cant manage to bowl again after a short innings, then they need to sack a few fitness guys in the camp.

Not asking Pakistan to bad again only had the effect of shortening the (albeit long odds) on the draw. Nothing else.

[hopeforthebest]

The reason given by Farbrace was stupid but for me decision was a good one. Misbah and Wahab batted together for 15 overs before they both threw away their wickets against Moeen. It was clear during that partnership that both were rarely troubled by Woakes and Stokes neither of whom could get any movement out of a docile pitch. With a possible 48 overs still to be bowled that day the decision to bat again made sense. Pakistan's bowlers even in helpful conditions brought on by the rain, hardly threatened to take wickets which underlined the sense of Cook's decision.

I must say though the plan to bat on this morning does seem unnecessary but will hardly stop England winning.

[KipperJohn]

Only three teams in the history of the game have won following on, and the key to note in all of these instances is, the team winning was facing a deficit in the first innings of 150 plus runs less than Pakistan. No one has come near to overturning a 400 run first innings deficit being asked to follow on. For a coach to say he is worried about batting on the 5th day when they are as in control of a game as could be hoped....

Well, its pretty much verging on insanity. Incredibly negative cricket from England. If a four man attack plays and one is injured, and another is knackered having bowled 40 overs in a first innings, sure, dont ask to follow on. But if England cant manage to bowl again after a short innings, then they need to sack a few fitness guys in the camp.

Not asking Pakistan to bad again only had the effect of shortening the (albeit long odds) on the draw. Nothing else.

England's fitness management, whether it be physical or psychological, has barely been fit for purpose (no pun intended) over the past few years.

At the risk of repeating myself, a player must be assessed as being fit to play 5 full days in advance - nobody knows how any game is going to pan out. England have taken their foot off Pakistan's throat for no obvious purpose. Seeing as they were 120 odd for 8 hardly suggests they would make a record breaking score in their second innings - their top order has looked very flimsy in both games.

[pompeymeowth]

It has to be money, It's sad that Cricket has come to this.

I'd be interested to know how many tickets were sold for today, it looks like a CC crowd atm.

[Dr Cricket]

Crowd was poor yesterday as well and looks to be very poor today as well.

[sussexpob]

Pakistan must be loving this. Three overs less to bat out the draw so far.

[hopeforthebest]

Only three teams in the history of the game have won following on, and the key to note in all of these instances is, the team winning was facing a deficit in the first innings of 150 plus runs less than Pakistan. No one has come near to overturning a 400 run first innings deficit being asked to follow on. For a coach to say he is worried about batting on the 5th day when they are as in control of a game as could be hoped....

Well, its pretty much verging on insanity. Incredibly negative cricket from England. If a four man attack plays and one is injured, and another is knackered having bowled 40 overs in a first innings, sure, dont ask to follow on. But if England cant manage to bowl again after a short innings, then they need to sack a few fitness guys in the camp.

Not asking Pakistan to bad again only had the effect of shortening the (albeit long odds) on the draw. Nothing else.

England's fitness management, whether it be physical or psychological, has barely been fit for purpose (no pun intended) over the past few years.

At the risk of repeating myself, a player must be assessed as being fit to play 5 full days in advance - nobody knows how any game is going to pan out. England have taken their foot off Pakistan's throat for no obvious purpose. Seeing as they were 120 odd for 8 hardly suggests they would make a record breaking score in their second innings - their top order has looked very flimsy in both games.

It's nothing to do with fitness, England will win having not enforced the follow on and would have won had they enforced the follow on. They sensibly chose the easiest way to win rather than risk the bowlers having to toil for another 48 overs on a docile pitch and turn up this morning with an old ball 48 overs old. The arrival of the rain made the decision look foolish but that is hindsight.

[Dr Cricket]

Not sure the pitch would change much in 48 overs what ever England do they would be bowling in similar conditions.