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Parameter Value
Follow On Status
Lead
Note: Follow on criteria based on MCC Laws of Cricket 14.1.

What is a follow-on calculator?

 A follow on calculator is an important tool used in red-ball cricket to decide whether you can make the opponent team bat again and enforce the follow-on. A follow on calculator is used in test matches. according to the rule of MCC, law 14 of MCC states that follow-on law is often used when the play duration is less and to avoid a draw result. Similarly, if you’re interested in knowing about how the play happens in shorter formats like One Day, or T20s when there are unavoidable circumstances like rain or light problems then you can freely use our  Duckworth-Lewis Calculator.

What are the rules of the Follow on in cricket according to MCC rules?

MCC( 14.1.1) law states that  In a test cricket match having two innings and a total duration of 5 days or more, the side that bats first and leads by at least 200 runs shall have the option of requiring the other side to follow their innings. 

 Example of this law

Suppose there is a 5-day test cricket between Bangladesh and Pakistan where Bangladesh bats first and scores a total run of  563 and  Pakistan bats for the first inning and only scores 263 runs at this stage, Bangladesh has the lead of 300 runs so Bangladesh can enforce follow-on to Pakistan.

 MCC(14.1.2) law states that when there is a red ball cricket match  of fewer than 5 days in the domestic circuit  then the minimum run criteria for  matches of  short duration,

For  3 or 4 days match a minimum of 150 runs lead by the team batting first.
For 2 days match a minimum of 100 runs lead by the team batting first.
For 1 day match of red ball, a minimum of 50 runs lead by the team batting first.

Follow on  calculator  working method

Match days = 5
Team 1 (first-inning score) = 456
Team  2 (first-inning score) = 226

Results:-  here, team 1 has a lead of 230 runs, So follow-on can be enforced on team 2.
Team 2 needs to score 30 more runs to avoid follow-on.

Now let’s break down the terms related to the follow on calculator.

Match days signify the total days of the red ball test cricket, in which there isn’t limited gameplay.

It can be 1,2, 3,4, 5 days, or more.

Run differential (follow-on calculator)

5 day match – (teams 1 score – 200)
4 day match – ( team 1 score – 150)
3-day match – ( team 1 score – 150)
2 day match – ( team 1 score – 100)
1 day match – ( team 1 score – 50)

Normal  Gameplay   Condition  in the Test Cricket

Team 1 won the toss and chose to bat against Team 2 here in a normal test Cricket match  batting sequence will be as follows:-
Team 1 batting first –  1st inning.
Team 2 is batting first – 1st inning.
Team 1 batting again – 2nd inning.
Team 2 batting second – 2nd inning.

Follow-on batting sequence

Team 1 batting first – first inning
Team 2 batting first – first inning
Team 2 is batting again after a follow-up on enforced –  2nd innings
Team 1 batting second – 2nd innings.

 Some of the examples of the follow-on enforced in international crickets.

 1. In 2007, in India vs Srilanka’s 2nd test match, India batted first and scored 622 runs, and when Srilanka batted in the first innings was all out for 183 runs and here India enforced Srilanka a follow-on.

5 Days match,
Team 1(India) score=622
Team 2(Srilanka) score=183

 To avoid Follow on  [ team 1 score – 200 ]
                     = [622-200]
                     = 422 runs needed to be scored by Sri Lanka to avoid follow-on but only scored 183, so follow-on was enforced. Srilanka was forced to bat again and Srilanka again scored 386  runs, hence India won by an inning and  53 runs.

 

 2. In 2001, in India vs Australia’s 2nd test match, Australia batted first and scored 445 runs, and when India batted in the first innings was all out for 171 runs and here Australia enforced India a follow-on.

 5 Days match,
Team 1(Australia ) score=445
Team 2(India) score= 171

To avoid Follow on  [ team 1 score – 200 ]
                                 = [445- 200]
                                 = 245 runs needed to be scored by India to avoid follow-on but only scored 171, so follow-on was enforced. India was forced to bat again and scored  657 runs, and when Australia came to bat in 2nd innings, it was all out for 212 hence India won by   171 runs.

 Importance of Follow-On Calculator in Cricket.

  1.  Strategies formation seeing the weather and decision to put psychological pressure on the opponent team.
  2.  Time can be managed wisely as the team with the lead wants the opponent to bat again and get the result of the match win or loss and avoid a draw result.
  3.  Mental pressure on the batting team was given a follow-on as they performed badly in the first innings so this can give players and the team a mental burden, Which can be an opportunity for the opponent team to be on the winning side.
  4.  The advantage of the pitch condition can be taken as the day passes the pitches get worse than before so after enforcing follow-on on adding team can have the bowling advantage and there will be less tear and dryness in the pitch.

Some of the frequently asked questions about follow-on calculators.

 Q.1) Can a Follow on calculator be used for limited-overs games?

 Ans- No, a follow-on calculator cannot be used in limited over the game as limited over games if it is unsure about the gameplay condition then the Duckworth-Lewis Calculator is used.

 Q. 2.  In first-class crickets, is follow-on applicable or not?

Ans- Of course in first-class cricket follow-on is applicable as first-class cricket in the domestic circuit usually of 3 to 4 days This means team leading should lead by at least more than 150 runs.

 Q.3. Can any team win the match after being enforced follow-on?

 Ans-Yes, in international crickets or domestic matches teams can win there are many instances when a team wins by batting better than their first inning and giving a huge target andrestricand restricting below the target.

For example, we can see in 2001, India vs Australia, India was given a follow-on by Australia but at last India won the match by 171 runs.

 Conclusion

In this article, we use a free follow on Calculator that guarantees 100% accuracy according to the MCC rule in the same way as we use batting average or bowling strike rate. We also cover basic information about all aspects of a follow-on calculator, how to use all the conditions to calculate the follow-on, the formulas involved and their terms and their breakdowns, and examples of various aspects of follow-on calculators of some famous cricket teams.