What's the deal with fourth-innings run-chases?

In the latest episode of the podcast we discuss the recent fourth-innings run-chases in Tests around the world.

Since the start of 2021, there have been 58 instances of teams batting in the fourth innings - of which 27 have ended in victories. England, West Indies, India, and Pakistan have chased tall targets and we explore whether there has been a significant shift in how teams approach the run-chase.

Buy Cricket Beyond the Bazaar (recently republished by 81allout)India (hardback) | India (paperback, e-copy)Australia (hardback, paperback, e-copy)USA (hardback, paperback, e-copy)UK (hardback, paperback, e-copy)Canada (hardback, paperback, e-copy)

Talking Points:

• The recent increase in teams achieving the target in the fourth-innings
• The high preparedness of bowlers before matches - and the predictable drop in intensity as Tests runs their course
• Rewind to the 2000s - when more teams chased targets
• The difficulty of bowling negative in this era - against batsmen with great range
• The T20 effect on Test chases
• A thumb-rule for guessing if a team has a chance in the chase - check run-rates
• India's historic chase at the Gabba in 2021
• England's recent successes in chasing 250-plus targets
• Will teams start preparing pitches that ease out as the game progresses?
• Sehwag's blitz, Sachin's 136,  Gavaskar's pristine 90 - and other great chases

Participants:

Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee); Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview); Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd); Ashoka (@ABVan)

*

Fourth-innings chases - Kartikeya Date - Cricketingview; Shafique's epic 160* leads Pakistan to fourth-innings glory - Fidel Fernando - ESPNcricinfo; The Bairoot show in Edgbaston classic - 81allout podcast; England post a record against India - Kartikeya Date - Cricketingview; Dravid: 'We have started Test matches well but haven't been able to finish well' - ESPNcricinfo; Has it become easier to chase down stiff targets in Test cricket - S Rajesh ESPNcricinfo; Fly Lara Fly - Rahul Bhattacharya - The Cricket Monthly; Clive Lloyd and Bedi rewind to Port-of-Spain in 1976 - YouTube; Gordon Greenidge's 214* at Lord's in 1984 - YouTube; Nathan Astle's 222 of 168 balls - YouTube