Smith's defensive captaincy?

[Sandeep99]

Australia, historically, always plays an allrounder at #6. It was surprising to see them field only 4 bowlers. You can't attack if you just have 4 bowlers (just 1 strike bowler at that). They have to field Mitchell Marsh in the next match.

[Soorma_Bhopali]

Growing up in the 80s, I cannot remember even one instance where a captain did not enforce a follow on ..it was a given to inflict more misery and humiliation by asking a team to follow -on , given an opportunity ..never heard this crap of bowlers' rest and all this talk of wrapping bowlers in cotton wool.

 

Nowadays, it seems enforcing follow-on has gone out of fashion..may be, Eden Gardens 2001 test has got something to do with this thinking ..

Edited December 19, 2016 by Soorma_Bhopali

[Cricketics]

6 minutes ago, Soorma_Bhopali said:

 

 

Nowadays, it seems enforcing follow-on has gone out of fashion..may be, Eden Gardens 2001 test has got something to do with this thinking ..

Not really. Yes may be for few years after Eden 2001, people were worried, but currently most teams don't because bowlers are usually not fit enough as they are playing too much cricket compared to back then.

 

But I still don't agree, after bowling 50 odd overs to Pakistan, they weren't tired. Should have enforced it and gotten done with the game on day 3, or at most by early morning day 4