What is follow on in Test cricket? why it was used in IND vs AUS test match

By Ravi - Dec 17, 2024 02:03 PM
Last updated on Dec 17, 2024 02:04 PM

What is follow on in Test cricket?: The third match of the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy is being played between India and Australia in Brisbane. In this match, Australia batted strongly and scored a big score in the first innings. But Team India's batsmen failed once again. Team India is facing the threat of follow-on.

Australia has scored a huge score of 445 runs in the first innings. Team India's top order faltered and the middle order also collapsed. All hopes are on Ravindra Jadeja and Nitish Reddy at this time. Both of them are expected to save the follow-on. What is this follow-on? What are its rules? We tell you.

Conditions required for follow-on

Follow-on is an optional rule in cricket. Information about this rule is available in Law 14 of cricket.
It is applicable only when both the teams bat twice each and cannot win any match until at least three innings are completed.
To give follow-on, the team batting first should have a lead of at least 200 runs.
This decision is taken by the captain of the team batting first. If the team is in a strong position then the captain chooses the option of follow-on.
In this, the team batting first can get the result of the match by dismissing the opposing team twice within the total score of the first innings.
Its objective is to win the match by saving the match from a draw.

follow on in Test cricket

The decision to enforce follow-on is taken by the captain of the team batting first in the match. If his team is in a strong position, then the captain chooses the option of follow-on. For this, the opposing team has to be out twice within the total score of the first innings.

According to Law 14.2 of the Laws of Cricket, a captain must inform the opposition captain and the umpires of the follow-on. Once informed, this decision cannot be changed.

Decreasing lead according to duration

Law 14 of cricket specifies the lead required by teams to enforce a follow-on depending on the duration of the match.
For Tests of five days or more, a team needs a lead of 200 runs or more to enforce a follow-on.
In domestic first-class cricket tournaments such as the Ranji Trophy, a team needs a lead of 150 runs or more to enforce a follow-on.
This lead is reduced to 100 runs in two-day cricket and 75 runs in a one-day match.

According to the rules of cricket, 14.1.3, if the first day of a multi-day match is washed out due to rain, the lead will be reduced. If there is no play on the first day of a match with a duration of more than one day, then 14.1 will apply according to the number of days remaining before the start of play. The day on which play first begins will be counted as a full day, no matter when the play starts.

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