Australia v Pakistan: When was the last time Australia enforced a follow-on?

The reaction was just as predictable as the decision itself.

As Australia knocked over Pakistan for 148 to take a 408-run lead heading into the third innings at Karachi, skipper Pat Cummins gave the nod to his top-order to head back into the change rooms to pad up. 

Despite being well within in their rights to make Pakistan bat again and shoot for the most humiliating of results in cricket — an outright victory — Australia played it safe.

Bat again, build up the lead early on day four, and hope the star-studded Australian bowling line up could topple the Pakistanis in a day and half.

Australia is 489 runs ahead after day three of the second Test in Karachi, thanks largely to a session of devastating reverse-swing bowling that skittled Pakistan for just 148 runs.

It has become the apparent modus operandi of Australian captains for the better part of 20 years, and the inevitable criticism from cricket pundits and fans alike always comes back to one place.

Kolkata.

First of all, a quick run down on the follow-on for those who haven't been playing along at home.

The option of enforcing a follow-on is offered to a team who bats first, and then dismisses the opposition in the second innings for 200 or more runs fewer than the first team scored. The captain of the team that batted first can then tell the other team to 'follow-on' — meaning, to bat again.

Should the opposition lose all their wickets a second time without reaching the total of the first innings, it's a humiliating loss. Should they surpass the first innings score, the team that has only batted once thus far can then go out again and attempt to chase down those runs, if there's enough time left in the match.

So using this Test as an example, Australia scored 408 in the