Ganguly's decision: Masterstroke or folly?

Sourav Ganguly's decision to not enforce the follow-on in the Sydney Test despite being in a position to do so has started a debate in cricketing circles. Some experts have already questioned Ganguly's wisdom and the debate will surely fire up if India fail to win the Test on the final day.

But Ganguly is not the first captain to not enforce a follow-on. He, in fact, provided the thirtieth such instance in Test cricket and statistics reveal that though this decision may seem strange to some, it has brought laurels for the captains concerned on most occasions.

Out of the 29 such instances in the past, the teams not enforcing the follow-on have won on as many as 22 occasions, drawn the match on six occasions, and lost just once.

The only team to have lost a Test after not enforcing the follow-on is South Africa. Captain Dudley Nourse's decision backfired in the Test against Australia at Durban in 1949-50.

Ganguly is only the second Indian captain to not impose a follow-on upon his opponent. Sachin Tendulkar was the first to do so when he decided to give his bowlers a rest rather than the opportunity to have another go at the New Zealanders in the Ahmedabad Test of 1999-00. Tendulkar was later ridiculed by all and sundry for his decision.

Let's wait and watch how Ganguly's decision will be seen: as a masterstroke or an act of stupidity.

Details of instances where Test captains did not enforce the follow-on:

Summary of instances of captains not enforcing the follow-on: