It's a more difficult mindset to score about 400 to make the opposition bat again. Easier to bat 5 sessions to get a draw or even a win

I agree. If Farbrace was telling the truth, then I struggle not to see the decision as anything other than idiotic. Just how much were Pakistan going to have to score to give them any chance of winning at all? 700??? I still think it was an absurd decision not to enforce the follow on.

It's all about money losing a days cricket is about £1 million in sales that is the only reason for not enforcing the follow on .

Sorry but that is a ridiculous over reaction. Do you think that decision has given England no chance of winning the match ? It isn't a race, its a 5 day test match. They have two days left, that should be ample time to win the game.

Who's said it means England won't win the match?

Nobody but to call it 'an absurd decision' is a vastly over the top reaction. How is it absurd ? As I said, is it going to cost them the game ? No, so it isn't absurd at all. Its just not what we thought they would do.

OK. A fair assessment.

1 - 0 down in a series of three; yes I'd have deffo put them back in. Batting on runs the risk of bad weather on Mon/Tues - and if PAK had managed a lead of 100-150, the rule @ Old Traffoed is if it ain't turning at the close of day 2, it ain't gonna turn (much), so no worries chasing 150 down in 30.
But Cooks gone the other way so fair enough, his decision and ENG should win easily from here anyway. All that can really stop them is that front just off the Isle Of Man...coming this way...

It's my opinion, just as yours is yours.

I really don't see the relevance of the BIB as it bears no relation to what I said, nor is it in any way implied in what I said.

If you have the chance to win a game quickly, England should take it IMO. There was no good reason not to just go in for the kill. This makes it an absurd decision, risking rain/bad weather/other unseen interruptions unnecessarily. Of course England should win this hands down, either way, but the follow on was the obvious choice for a clinical win.

And as I said (prompting my wording), if Farbrace was telling the truth in his statement about avoiding batting on a 5th day pitch, then that really was very stupid given the reality of the situation. It's so far removed from any reasonable reality that I struggle to believe it was the truth anyway, truth be told.

If we draw this Cook Will be a cock.

It will certainly seem absurd if the weather intervenes, and this being Manchester the weather is too unpredictable to be certain of anything. It's not as if the bowlers were in desperate need of a rest as they weren't pushed hard in the first innings so I don't see absurd as an exaggeration at all

Since India became the third team in the history of test cricket to win following on, many captains have refused the option to put a side back in.

I didn't think Cook would refuse the option today with a massive lead and deflated opposition. It seemed he purposely kept Anderson and Broad out of the attack when Pakistsn were 8 down to rest them up for the follow on.

England will win regardless, but I would have liked us to have gone for the emphatic kill of an innings victory.

Root needs the batting practice

Root is the vice captain. Root captains whenever Cook is off the field. And yet some think Bell should be recalled if Cook is unavailable?

I see there is plenty of rain forecast throughout tomorrow afternoon. It could get interesting if Pakistan bat well today.

Surely England won't mess around too long this morning before declaring? Pakistan aren't chasing 500 to win this.

Looking at the webcam, some very angry-looking clouds above Greater Old Trafford (hey, so what's new??) but no rain on the radar. Without the floodlights could have been an in-off day r/e light.
Also if we get a drenching, the outfield may not recover as quickly as it should thanks to that sodding concert! OT's got previous in that respect, and if it happens it's a lesson that wasn't learned.

A bit of rain forecast towards the end of the day but it should stay mainly clear. Good overcast bowling conditions all day today that we should exploit.

Tomorrow's forecast will worry people if Pakistan do somehow bat well today without losing many wickets. Far more rain currently forecast tomorrow.

TMS making the same point that I (and others) made. To give them even a sniff of causing England a problem, Pakistan would have to score 491 (i.e. a 100 run lead). If England were scared of that, then they really do have a serious problem in their thinking.

As Vic Marks is saying now, England should still win, but they have slightly enhanced Pakistan`s chances of not losing, which was entirely unnecessary.

Yes it sends a very poor message about our confidence as a team. It's embarrassing.

IF, i were England captain i WOULD have enforced the follow on, the same as many on here, but to call it an absurd decision and to criticise the skipper like some have on here is a gross over reaction.

England's priority is to win in 5 days rather than in 3 or 4. If this decision proves to stop England winning this match then i will eat humble pie and join in the castigating of the captain. But as it stands i expect England to win easily

As I say every time these situations arise it does seem that modern captains just work on the principle that there are 100 runs per session

If England had declared overnight they would be around 500 ahead with 600 runs left in the game, ie they could still lose if Pakistan bat through

If England declare at lunch today they'll be 600 ahead with 500 runs left in the game and can't lose.

That appears to be the modern way of looking at declarations

You're entitled to think what you like, but you're going against every commentator I've heard on TMS, their reports of all the written media, and many people on here. I note you haven't actually responded to the points made in favour of my opinion.

I have to say that I'm surprised by the tone of that post - this is a discussion forum, so to criticise people in quite those terms for simply holding a strong opinion (an opinion that has been backed up, even if you disagree with it), is far more of an over-reaction, IMO.

EDIT - I see you've edited your original post, but I'd quoted it in the meantime. Sorry and thanks.

I am saying your post is an over reaction. I have actually said I would have put them in too so i am not going against any commentator. Please read my post

Also which points would you like me to respond to ?

To summarise. I am not saying what he did was what i would have done, i am merely saying he doesnt deserve the comments on here

It will be hilarious if Cook does stretch this out until lunch. Surely they are going to declare in this first hour? I'd declare in the next 10 minutes personally.

There is a 0.0% chance Pakistan will chase 520+ and win this test match.