Azhar Ali walks out to open in follow-on innings but he can opt not to open on Day 4: Here's how

A lot of talks were going around Azhar Ali and his batting form in Test cricket ahead of the Southampton Test against England. The Pakistan skipper had a batting average of 20 across his last 10 Test matches and it dips down to 12 when considered his last ten Tests outside Asia. He was successful in shutting down all the criticism by scoring an unbeaten 141-run knock while Pakistan crumbled to 273 in response to England’s 583/8.

Azhar Ali’s unbeaten 141 is the highest individual Test score in an away Test by a Pakistan captain in the last 15 years. It is also the 3rd highest Test score for a Pakistan skipper while playing outside Asia. Azhar Ali spent 406 minutes at the crease for his 141 off 272 which came with the help of 21 fours. Azhar surprised everyone by walking to open the follow-on innings along with Shan Masood. However, the day’s play came to an end even before the Pakistan batters got to take the guard.

Should Azhar Ali open the batting on Monday?

Azhar Ali’s promotion up the order might be a reflection of the criticism faced by the Pakistan team management for not allowing a tail-ender as nightwatchman ahead of Babar Azam on the 2nd day. Azhar took the responsibility of opening this time to let Abid Ali bat later on and make most against the old ball with his natural attacking batting skill.

Azhar isn’t new to opening the innings as he had scored over 1500 Test runs in that role. His triple century and a double hundred at the MCG came while opening the batting only. Hence, it will be interesting to see whether the Pakistan skipper walks along with Masood once again on day four as the Pakistan innings didn’t kick off on Sunday evening.

What does the law say?

The innings of a batter generally start when they step into the playing field which is not the same for openers. The innings of openers commence only at the call of play i.e. when the umpire at the bowler’s end makes the call of play. The same is applicable for any new batter who walks in after an interval. Since the call of play for Pakistan’s 2nd innings didn’t take place on 3rd day evening, it is not necessary that Azhar Ali and even Shan Masood should be the openers and walk first up on 4th day morning.

Law 25.2 Commencement of a batsman’s innings:

The innings of the first two batsmen, and that of any new batsman on the resumption of play after a call of Time, shall commence at the call of Play. At any other time, a batsman’s innings shall be considered to have commenced when that batsman first steps onto the field of play.