The follow-on call: An English view

Steve Smith's decision not to enforce the follow-on during the third evening of this second Ashes Test was exactly what England would have wanted after they had all but hit rock bottom in Adelaide.

Having been bowled out for 227 – a deficit of 215 – and facing the prospect of having to bat for almost an entire session against the pink ball under lights, Joe Root's team was there for the taking.

Earlier this year at Edgbaston, England, in their first pink-ball Test, took 19 wickets on the third day to seal a sensational innings victory against West Indies.

Make no mistake, Englishmen everywhere were fearing the same would happen to their team here in Adelaide after a limp first-innings display left the tourists at the mercy of Smith's call.

Instead, Australia's captain decided to take his boot off England's throat and breathe new life into a Test that might still be heading towards a home victory – but no thanks to Smith's decision.

England will have real belief they can now make what was looking like an abject humiliation into something more competitive.

Indeed, seeing England's bowlers, led by the excellent James Anderson, swinging the ball at will as Australia slumped to 4-50, would have fired the visitors with belief that maybe they could force an unlikely win, whereas previously all hope had been abandoned.

Even if they don't, the fact they have again dismissed David Warner and Smith cheaply in this match will give them confidence they can get on top of Australia's two most dangerous batsmen during the remaining three Tests.

Smith may have been keen to rest his three fast bowlers, with Mitchell Starc bowling 20 overs during England's innings and Pat Cummins and Josh Hazelwood 16 each.

But if he had been braver, it is likely Australia would have been on the brink of victory by stumps.

When even Michael Clarke criticises you for not making the opposition bat again, you probably know you made the wrong decision.

In 47 Tests in charge, Clarke enforced the follow-on just once – in his last match against England at The Oval in 2015.

Smith has had five opportunities to do the same as captain, only choosing to do so once – against West Indies at Hobart in 2015.

Speaking on Channel Nine's broadcast, Clarke said: "They are well on top. England is under pressure. Their batsmen are struggling and are really down at the moment.

"Steve Smith and this Australian team can make a real statement, say to England, ‘get back in there, we believe we can knock you over twice'."

Smith, of course, was taking a leaf out of Clarke's playbook from the 2013-14 Ashes, when he twice ground England into the dirt in Adelaide and Perth by not making them follow-on during a series which ultimately ended in a 5-0 victory for his team.

This time, though, Australia's wariness to go for the jugular – borne of that traumatic Test defeat at Eden Gardens in 2001 after Steve Waugh made India bat again – has given England a sliver of hope in what had been a desperate situation.

Former England quick Bob Willis summed up the mood of most visiting fans, saying: "Why would Steve not have wanted to bowl in these conditions? I'd have definitely enforced the follow-on.

"I thought Steve Smith got this one wrong. England were almost down and out. Surely the Aussie bowlers would love to bowl in these conditions under the lights."

If somehow this Test is not won by Australia, Smith's decision will go down as one of the great captaincy blunders.

Even if they do win it comfortably, England are still likely to leave Adelaide in a lot better shape mentally than they would have otherwise.

2017-18 International Fixtures

Magellan Ashes Series

Australia Test squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird, Chadd Sayers.

England Test squad: Joe Root (c), James Anderson (vc), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Gary Ballance, Stuart Broad, Alastair Cook, Mason Crane, Tom Curran, Ben Foakes, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ben Stokes, Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Chris Woakes.

First Test Australia won by 10 wickets. Scorecard

Second Test Adelaide Oval, December 2-6 (Day-Night). Tickets

Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Tickets

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Tickets

Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Tickets

Gillette ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Tickets

Fifth ODI Perth Stadium, January 28. Tickets

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Tickets

Gillette T20 trans-Tasman Tri-Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Tickets

Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Tickets

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 14

Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21