5 reasons why captains are reluctant to enforce the follow-on

To surprise the opposition

They say “At any time in a test match, do exactly what the captain of the opposition doesn’t want or expect you to do at that very moment”.

A test match is like a game of chess. You make a move and wait for the opponent to make his while secretly hoping for that one move he shouldn’t make. And then there are surprises you are not ready for.

If the opposition wants you to declare, pile on. If they are looking to waste time, declare early. If they are looking to score quickly, spread the field. If they are playing safe, attack.

And if the opposition expects to follow-on, surprise them by asking not to, if it suits the team’s purpose. Owing to the fact that Cricket is being played as much in the dressing rooms as on the field, most teams have plans for everything, well, except for surprises.

Based on Arthur’s comments it can be concluded that Pakistan was looking to bat again immediately. But England surprised them by asking not to. In the field, Pakistan kept on leaking runs and England eventually scored run a ball for 30 overs.

In a situation where Pakistan were supposed to stem the run flow, waste the time, and hope for bad weather, they leaked profusely. There was no plan. Surprises do that.