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Former cricketer Murali Kartik commented on South Africa's delayed declaration in the ongoing Guwahati Test against India. The Proteas declared at 260/5 towards the end of Day 4, setting India a massive 549-run target.
Kartik opined that South Africa were overly cautious and should have declared much earlier. He emphasized that it would have given them significant time to bowl India out and win the Test.
South Africa declared after Tristan Stubbs was dismissed for 94. Kartik suggested that the side should not have risked falling short of time while waiting for a personal milestone.
Speaking to Cricbuzz after stumps, the 49-year-old said:
"I felt that they possibly were erring on the side of caution. You know what the record is in India, and you've already seen what has happened in the first innings. In trying to get to someone's milestone, you don't want to be left short. You don't want to rue the fact that 'Oh, we've run out of time' if you need two more wickets and you don't have time. Yes, you've got two wickets today, but somebody might put up resistance tomorrow. From the time those two wickets fell, Kuldeep Yadav still negotiated the fag end of the day."
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During the discussion, former South Africa captain Shaun Pollock remarked that the time of declaration didn't matter now as the visitors managed to pick up two wickets before stumps. He stated:
"We debated whether we should or shouldn't have South Africa declared earlier. And I suppose when you look at it and say, 'Okay, they got two wickets before the close of play', it doesn't really matter when they declared. If they hadn't got any wickets, and they were still relying to get 10 tomorrow (would have been different), but now having to get only eight wickets tomorrow, you do get the feeling that even though they batted for an extended time, it doesn't really influence the game."
India lost both openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (13 off 20 balls) and KL Rahul (6 off 29 balls) early in the run chase. The hosts were 27/2 in 15.2 overs at stumps, with Sai Sudharsan (2* off 25 balls) and nightwatchman Kuldeep Yadav (4* off 22 balls) unbeaten.
"They would have given themselves more sessions" - Shaun Pollock feels South Africa could have declared after the lead touched 450
While Shaun Pollock stated that South Africa batting for an extended period was unlikely to influence the result, he reckoned that the side could have declared with a lead of 450.
Pointing out that it would have given them more sessions to bowl India out, the cricketer-turned-commentator said:
"Once they got to 450, they had enough. I think 450 would be a massive stretch as well, and they would have given themselves more sessions. And as a captain, you kind of live and die by those kind of decisions you make."
Pollock added that South Africa should target winning the Test and add 12 more points to their World Test Championship tally.
"They have to try and chase 12 points. To think that they could have come out of India with 24 points, someone would have had to pinch them and say, 'Hey, wake up from your dreams. It's not going to happen,'" he added.
The Temba Bavuma-led side already have a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. They secured a 30-run victory in a low-scoring encounter in Kolkata.
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