by bigfluffylemon » Tue Oct 09, 2018 10:49 pm
The only thing of surprise here was that Australia made 140 runs before the collapse happened, lulling us into a false sense of security. Over the last three years, Australia's batting has been almost as frail as England's, especially overseas. Not just in Asia, but in England and South Africa too. What's kept their heads above the parapet has largely been that they don't usually collapse at home (where wickets have been pretty flat lately), and Steve Smith.
No non-Asian side seems to be able to bat in Asia at the moment. South Africa fell in a heap when they toured India too.
I can't say I'm surprised the follow-on wasn't enforced, even though it probably made sense to. But I guess the reasoning was that the bowlers had been out there for 80 overs in 38 degree heat, with Shah and Asif having bowled 50 between them. They probably felt that they needed a rest. To be honest, while it makes the draw marginally more likely, I'll be astonished if it makes any difference to the result. Pakistan will be 400 ahead by lunch, and there's no way Australia will chase that, whether they bowl Pakistan out or there's a declaration (which would guess would happen at about 450 ahead, somewhere between lunch and tea).