Follow-On in Test Cricket: When and Why to Enforce It
The follow-on allows a team with a large first-innings lead to ask their opponents to bat again immediately. This guide explains the rule, the strategic debate and famous follow-on results.
The follow-on is a provision in Test cricket that allows the team batting first to ask the team that followed them to bat again immediately if the second team's first innings ends more than 200 runs behind the first team's total. The captain with the large lead chooses whether to enforce the follow-on — asking the opposition to bat again — or to bat again themselves. The decision has strategic consequences that can determine the match's outcome.
The Follow-On Rule
Under Law 13, a follow-on can be enforced if the leading team's advantage at the end of the opposing side's first innings is: 200 or more runs in a five-day Test; 150 or more in a three-day match; 100 or more in a two-day match; and 75 or more in a one-day match. The captain of the team in the lead decides whether to enforce; if they choose not to, they bat their own second innings instead. A team cannot enforce the follow-on if their own first innings is not complete.
Strategic Considerations
Enforcing the follow-on forces the opposition to bat twice in succession, potentially on a deteriorating pitch and with tired legs. However, it also means the team's own fast bowlers must bowl again without rest. Many captains avoid enforcing the follow-on to protect their fast bowlers — particularly in hot conditions — even if it means the match is more likely to end in a draw. Steve Waugh famously enforced the follow-on against India in Kolkata in 2001 — and Australia lost, in one of cricket's greatest comebacks.
Modern Trends in Follow-On Decisions
Modern captains have become more cautious about enforcing the follow-on because of workload concerns for fast bowlers. The consensus in modern Test cricket is that the follow-on is most worth enforcing on a deteriorating pitch where the opposition's second innings will be harder to bat, particularly if the first team's bowling attack is not overly depleted. On a flat pitch with no deterioration, the benefit of enforcing diminishes and resting bowlers for a second innings becomes the priority.
Frequently asked questions
How many overs of rest do bowlers get if the follow-on is not enforced?
If the team in the lead chooses to bat their own second innings, the opposition must bowl those second innings before the original team bats again. This allows bowlers to rest for the duration of the second innings. In some cases, this can be 100+ overs — providing significant recovery time before the team needs to bowl again to take the final wickets.
Can a match end in a draw after the follow-on is enforced?
Yes. If the team following on bats long enough in their second innings, they can bat out the match and force a draw. This happened most famously in England vs Australia Tests where England, following on, batted days to save the match. The follow-on is not a guarantee of victory — it must be followed by taking all ten opposing wickets.