As its name suggests, Follow-on enforced the team batting second to bat again right after their first innings. In test cricket, Follow-On is a rule that can only be implemented if the team batting first gets a lead in a first innings of at least 200 runs.
If the batting second team scores fewer runs compared to the first team’s batting total, then the captain of the first team can decide whether to enforce Follow-On on the second team.
What is F(o) mean?
In easy words, an F(o) or Follow-On is an optional rule in cricket in which a team batting second may be asked to continue batting right after they finish their first innings in test cricket or First-class cricket.
Who decides the follow-on?
The captain of the team that batted first can decide whether to enforce the Follow-On or not. As it is totally optional, it is upon the leading team’s captain whether to go with Follow on or not.
As per the Laws of the Cricket, Law 14.2 “a captain shall notify the opposing captain and the umpires of his/her intention to take up this option. Once notified, the decision cannot be changed.”
When Follow-On can be applied in Test Cricket
According to the Laws of cricket, Law 14, in a two-inning match of 5 days or more, the team batting first and leads with 200 runs or more after the first innings then the captain of the team shall enforce the rule on the team second.
- In a match of 3 or 4 days, the lead must have at least 150 or more to apply this rule.
- In a match with two days left a lead must be at least 100 runs or more to enforce the follow-on.
- In the 1-day match, at least 75 runs leads must be needed to call upon this rule.
- In case of rain or wash the lead is trimmed based on the hoe many days are left accordingly.
Rule 14.3 stated, “If no play takes place on the first day of a match of more than one day’s duration, 14.1 shall apply in accordance with the number of days remaining from the start of play. The day on which play first commences shall count as a whole day for this purpose, irrespective of the time at which play starts.”
What is Formula to calculate Follow-On
To calculate the Follow-On Target in test cricket, just subtract the 200 from the batting first team’s total score. This will give you the minimum target to avoid the Follow-On. However, if the batting second team’s score is any lesser than the resulting target, they might face the Follow-on from the opposite side.
You can also check out the Cricket Follow-On Calculator and can speculate the Follow-On in advance.
But why Follow-On use in Test cricket
The follow-on reduced the possibility of a match draw or no result. By enforcing the Follow-Ons, Team Second can finish their second innings faster without wasting much time. However, no team except New Zealand was forced to play Follow-On against England and won the test match in cricket history.