Interesting declaration by Michael Clarke!!

It was one decision I have never seen before in cricket. Had they got a wicket, it would have been termed smart but since they didn't I'm sure the papers will be all over him citing desperation tomorrow morning. In my opinion, it was a calculated risk considering his batsmen at the crease weren't gonna score many more runs and the Indians would not want to come out and bat for 15 minutes. They would be edgy and the Aussies could take advantage. Luckily our openers handled them well.

Thanks a ton for sharing this discussion. Yes u are absolutely right, he made the right decision by declaring the innings as u had mentioned that he might have thought that by doing so they might have put some pressure at the last overs but things did not materialize as he had thought and i hope he comes out with a better strategy in the second day to tackle the Indian batsmen. What say?

I had written an article about this declaration to one of the sites where I write regularly. I had expressed my views there already. But what I would like to add is that the decision could have got respected had India lost some wickets, or should we say, the Australian bowlers had taken wickets respecting Clarke's decision. But already it was a funny and immature decision to declare at that stage when he did. Secondly, it became more childish when Murali and Pujara batted the entire day. Not losing any wicket is really a commendable job and we must salute the batsmen for what they did. They batted on the same pitch where the entire Australian side was dismissed for almost nothing.

Even now I didn't understand why he declared their first innings. There was no such huge score on the scoreboard and still they declared. I should say that was a wrong decision from the Aussie captain. In sub-continent conditions even single run is very much valuable.

I think clarke's intention was to make india on a wrong foot by getting an early breakthrough,but it doesn't happened.He made a calculated gamble but indian openers had other thoughts,if sahbag lasted few overs tomorrow we should expect a good total and a healthy lead.Good day.

As Gavaskar said in the commentary, it was a brave declaration by Clarke.I think the idea was since the last recognized pair may not add more than 20 runs in the given conditions, he wanted to fancy a chance by surprise declaration.The Indians were tired after a long field and would not expect to be batting on same day.So the thought was declaring it immediately and get few wickets within 2-3 overs to pressurize India.He was aware that a total of 237 or 257 was not enough in hyderabad for pressurizing Indians.Plus 2 opening wickets will curtail the Indian lead to a good extent.He could even try for a draw in the match.Unluckily for him, he did have bowlers of the calibre of Mcgrath to get things moving for him.In another angle,he did not also have another choice of getting quick wickets.And as you said,it was last dice for sure.Clarke guessed that a total of 400 was for a taking but then game plan was lost in the very first hour after the quick wickets.But then i do not think by doing the declaration, he did something big.The tailenders were not to last for more than 30 runs or so.In fact, they have not lasted for 20-30 runs in the whole series so far.Thanks!

Only Australian captain could have done that..he knows that there is no need to play few extra overs, the wicket had to fall, it was inevitable. Though India has not loss a single wicket but the idea was not all wrong to let India play those last nervous-rich three overs. Tomorrow Aussies will come hard at us, but if somehow India plays well, that can break Aussies mentally for the entire series and India could even think of white wash from there. If they lose this match comfortably, coming back in this series will not be easy for Australia.