Smith's defensive captaincy?

[Cricketics]

I bet Michael Clarke would have enforced the follow on here.

 

If none of the prime bowlers were injured, this was a crap decision as they got both the tailenders out early and bowlers had good rest.

 

I mean it is still baffling, this decision because this is a pink ball test where ball is still moving and doing a lot. You have 300 lead already. Why would you not do it. Pakistani middle order barely looked like scoring runs. You can not expect them to put 500 in  3rd innings with the kind of bowling line up you have, so why would you not enforce the follow on?

[BeautifulGame]

It was a pretty hot day and 3rd day is generally the best day to bat of Gabba .

Also Australia can score quickly and declare before flood lights and have a quick go at them.So why give Pakistan the best of batting conditions instead using it to demoralize their bowlers in the heat and have a go at them later when it's much more helpful.Nothing negative in this . Perfectly logical decision.

As for Clarke he did exactly the same during the Ashes in 13-14 too.

[Tibarn]

Yes, it seems very defensive. His bowlers bowled only 55 overs, there's no way they are tired already, but it seems like he wants to make sure they get a rest. They aren't playing an allrounder this match, so I guess that makes him more cautious. 

 

One good thing about batting again, if they bat to a huge lead/for a long time, they can grind down Pakistan's bowlers. Pakistan only plays 4 bowlers consistently, with Azhar contributing a few, so tiring them out could affect their performance in the upcoming matches. It's 29C/85F temperature, so the Pak bowlers can get very tired. 

 

Overall though, Smith is a boring/defensive captain compared to Clarke. 

[Cricketics]

7 minutes ago, BeautifulGame said:

 

It was a pretty hot day and 3rd day is generally the best day to bat of Gabba .

 

Also Australia can score quickly and declare before flood lights and have a quick go at them.So why give Pakistan the best of batting conditions instead using it to demoralize their bowlers in the heat and have a go at them later when it's much more helpful.Nothing negative in this . Perfectly logical decision.

 

As for Clarke he did exactly the same during the Ashes in 13-14 too.

England is different though than Pakistan

 

This Pakistani batting line up is fragile and just coming up after losing to New Zealand 0-2, and barely looked like scoring runs against Australia.

 

I think Smith should have taken a chance. You can't expect Pakistan tos core 450+ runs to make a game of this test match. Hazlewood and Starc are just too good.

[BeautifulGame]

England is different though than Pakistan

 

This Pakistani batting line up is fragile and just coming up after losing to New Zealand 0-2, and barely looked like scoring runs against Australia.

 

I think Smith should have taken a chance. You can't expect Pakistan tos core 450+ runs to make a game of this test match. Hazlewood and Starc are just too good.

What's the hurry though ?

This is just start of day 3 and this is a 3 test series .Making their bowlers and Yasir in particular toiling in this heat will definitely affect the Pakistan attack later in the series .There is no benefit for Australia putting Pakistan into bat again.Considering how fragile Pakistan batting is why give them the best of batting conditions to regain their confidence .Let's not forget Pakistan piled on the runs in England when conditions were flat.Better to keep them under the pump by forcing them to field in this heat and then again ask to bat when are hard under lights .

Also England were also just as frail let's not forget .They are just blown away in Brisbane and come second test in Adelaide ,Johnson again blew them in first innings .Still Clarke decided not to enforce the follow on .

There was nothing negative in that decision and their is nothing here either .There is still 3 days to go and hence no hurry .Will only be negative if Aussies well.into tomorrow evening

[Cricketics]

3 minutes ago, BeautifulGame said:

What's the hurry though ?

This is just start of day 3 and this is a 3 test series .Making their bowlers and Yasir in particular toiling in this heat will definitely affect the Pakistan attack later in the series .There is no benefit for Australia putting Pakistan into bat again.Considering how fragile Pakistan batting is why give them the best of batting conditions to regain their confidence .Let's not forget Pakistan piled on the runs in England when conditions were flat.Better to keep them under the pump by forcing them to field in this heat and then again ask to bat when are hard under lights .

That is one way of looking at it but I would look at it in the way that, I would bowl them out as it still looks decent to bowl, and if I can bowl them out and wrap the game today and win by an innings, I will put them into a zone where all their players are under pressure and playing for their spot for the next game which is the Boxing day test.

[express bowling]

Smith wants another century against this mediocre bowling attack       

[BeautifulGame]

That is one way of looking at it but I would look at it in the way that, I would bowl them out as it still looks decent to bowl, and if I can bowl them out and wrap the game today and win by an innings, I will put them into a zone where all their players are under pressure and playing for their spot for the next game which is the Boxing day test.

Yeah agree different perspectives both don't see negative in either approach though .

Just modern captains generally prefer the later approach. Generally Clarke did the same as well.

Also Aussies having just 4 bowlers probably played a part as well

[zaqw222222]

I dont remember the last time when a captain enforced a followon

[Cricketics]

This game should have been over by now. 

[Sidhoni]

Yeah no point in batting again and then in fact forcing the issue with over 5 RPO when its only day 3. His bowlers had some rest overnight and didn't bowl a lot of overs anyway.

[gakgupta]

Australian team is really down on confidence.....half of the side is changed....these new folks needs some batting practice ..... i think it's a good decision

[Cricketics]

19 hours ago, gakgupta said:

Australian team is really down on confidence.....half of the side is changed....these new folks needs some batting practice ..... i think it's a good decision

Turned out to be a really bad decison by Smith. He let this game continue till 5th day whem it could have been over on Day 3. Now Pakistan is having an outside chance to upset Australia. Yes very slight, but Yasir shah can hold the bat, and Shafiq has played really well and hence I will give them 5% chance. They have fought well, no doubt and deserve the credit.

 

300 run lead they had and the Aussie bowlers looked in great rhythm. They should have just enforced the follow on. Seriously, won't have done worse than this 4th innings bowling performance. 

 

Ghatiya, Raddi captaincy by Smith

[Number]

It seemed to have come back to bite in his ass but Wahab lost it in the final over.

[BeautifulGame]

Considering how badly Australia are bowling despite the rest , it only enforces that its a pretty sound decision .

If he had enforced follow on , Pakistan would have most likely batted out 2 days on this flat wkt and set Australia a tricky 4th innings target chasing which the Aussie batsmen would have would it tricky against Yasir .And their bowlers would have been knackered for the rest of the series as well.

Now despite tail wagging Australia are getting a pretty comfortable win

Now they are pretty getting a

[BeautifulGame]

Also just exposes how overrated and useless the Aussie attack and the likes of Hazelwood are when the wicket is flat .

Even Starc looks well overrated in his ability to knock of tailenders.

Will see how they perform here soon lol

[express bowling]

56 minutes ago, BeautifulGame said:

Also just exposes how overrated and useless the Aussie attack and the likes of Hazelwood are when the wicket is flat .

 

 

Every attack looks ordinary when the track is truly  flat.

 

 

[SUMO]

they will get more help on 'so called' flat indian pitches

[SELVAM]

His decision is right, but they should've batted little longer in 2nd innings .

Pakistanis given too many overs to bat on  by Aussies 

[Cricketics]

No, you enforce the follow and get the game done easily instead of taking the game to another day. As soon as you put in team's mind that they are batting fourth, you are basically giving them a chance to win something. 

 

While following on, batting team have too much to think of first getting the trail out of the way etc.