Find out the meaning of the Follow-On Rule in test cricket and its matches examples, as cricket enthusiasts are worried what will happen if India can’t score 246 against Australia in Gaba
Not aware of what we’re talking about? Worry not, here’s the brief.
As rain continue to disrupt the field in India vs Australia 3rd Test, which is being held at the Gaba, let’s discuss the meaning of Follow-On rule, while discussing the importance of getting 246 runs.
What is the ‘Follow-On’ rule in test cricket meaning explained, lead runs requirement and examples list
Welcome to the GG era where avoiding follow on is celebrated as an achievement 🥶 pic.twitter.com/h887MrczAo
— ' (@dhoniverse_) December 17, 2024
As the name suggests itself, follow-on rule is an optional rule, which allows the team, who are batting first to require their opponents to immediately begin their second innings after completing their first one.
This rule gets invoked when the team, who are batting first establishes a significant lead over their opponents in the first innings. The main aspect to invoke this rule is “the lead,” that required to enforce the follow-on varies based on the match format and duration.
This rule is a specific one in long-format cricket, such as International Test Matches and the domestic First-class cricket. Both of these formats involve each team batting twice, with a minimum of three innings required for a result.
How to Enforce the Rule
The decision to enforce this rule lies with the captain of the team that batted first. Captains typically choose this option when their team is in a dominant position, aiming to bowl the opposition out twice and secure a quicker result.
However, enforcing the follow-on comes with strategic considerations, such as managing the bowlers’ workload and accounting for potential difficulties of batting last on a deteriorating pitch.
Laws Governing the Rule
The follow-on is defined in Law 14 of the Laws of Cricket. As per the Law 14.2, the captain of the team enforcing the follow-on must inform the opposing captain and the umpires. Once this decision is made, it cannot be reversed.
Lead Requirements
The lead required to enforce this rule depends on the match duration, for instance 5 or more days with a lead of 200 runs or more and if the game is going for two days then a lead of 100 or more runs is necessary to invoke the follow-on.
For instance, if Team A scores 500, Team B must score at least 301 to make Team A bat again and if they score 300 or fewer, Team A’s captain can opt to enforce the follow-on.
The minimum lead required to enforce the follow-on varies depending on the match’s length and for five-day Tests, a team needs a 200-run lead. In domestic First-Class cricket like the Ranji Trophy, the requirement is 150 runs and in shorter matches, a lead of 100 runs is needed for two-day games, and 75 for one-day matches. Law 14.1.3 adjusts the lead if the first day is washed out.
According to Law 14.1.3, If the first day of a multi-day match is washed out, the required lead is adjusted proportionally to the remaining days in the match.
So far the rule has been enforced in a total of 294 Test matches since 1880. However, only 4 teams have lost after enforcing the rule, with Australia being on the losing side in three cases, such as:
Australia vs England – 1894
Australia vs England – 1981
Australia vs India – 2001
Though a recent instance occurred when the rule was invoked in 2023 between the two teams as:
England vs New Zealand – 2023, here team England lost the game to New Zealand after invoking the follow-on.
| Victory after a follow on in Test cricket history | ||||
| Winner | Margin | Opposition | Ground | Match Date |
| England | 10 runs | v Australia | Sydney | 14 Dec 1894 |
| England | 18 runs | v Australia | Leeds | 16 Jul 1981 |
| India | 171 runs | v Australia | Eden Gardens | 11 Mar 2001 |
| New Zealand | 1 run | v England | Wellington | 24 Feb 2023 |