With dense clouds hovering over the beautiful Old Trafford ground and the floodlights on, many anticipated England Test captain Alastair Cook would enforce a towering 391-run follow-on on a demoralised Pakistan batting unit.

The Pakistan camp saw it coming as their head coach Mickey Arthur, who is on his first assignment with the team, said "we fully expected to be batting again".

At Stumps on day three, the England captain was subject to severe criticism for his incomprehensible decision not to enforce the follow-on on the visitors despite having done it twice earlier this summer against Sri Lanka at Headingly and Durham.

The commentators and former skippers were quick to criticise Cook for letting Pakistan off the hook.

Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne remarked, "It is perfect bowling conditions with the ball nipping around and, if you walked out to toss the coin now, you would bowl first, which is why everyone is surprised."

Michael Vaughan, the former England Test captain, said, "I can give you 391 reasons why I would not have batted again."

In a post-match discussion, Mike Atherton, one of the most prolific broadcasters of the game and former England Test captain, stated, "If I was captain I think I would have enforced the follow-on. The bowlers were reasonably fresh and there is cloud cover, Pakistan’s top order is also vulnerable and here in Manchester – being a local boy – you can’t always be sure of two days’ good weather."

There was a point when Cook was seen pondering over the prospect of bowling again with his coaching staff as Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes hammered short-pitched deliveries at an unnerved Mohammad Amir. However, as the last wicket fell, Cook ran towards the dressing signalling, "We are going to bat again."

England assistant coach Paul Farbrace described the move to make the most of a pitch playing well. But with an opposition that possess a fragile top and lower order, there could not have been anything better than a 391-run lead at your disposal.

"The more the better," defenders of the Cook’s move said. It did not make sense with experts of the game ─ How many more runs do you want against a side that has managed a paltry 198 on a flat deck?

Clearly, there remained a possibility of Pakistan overcoming the trail, but with their top four batsmen accounting for an abysmal 18.16 per wicket thus far, the chances of such an occurrence were as high as the probability of Karachi receiving thunderstorms.

Since the first ball of day three, Pakistan’s sole aim was to delay the inevitable — to holdup the follow-on — and with his unfathomable call, Cook has given room to Pakistan to ease their nerves and even contemplate a draw.

Why take the Test to day five when you can win it on day four? Did Cook really fear a Pakistan comeback?